After dropping off my Christmas offerings at the Charabanc shop in Blackpool town centre, it was a pleasant ride south in the cold but clear air to Lytham and Lytham Hall where the Hopeful & Glorious Winter Art Fair was taking place.
I had never been to the hall since moving to the Fylde, which is bad after living here for thirteen years. Turning into the drive, it’s quite a distance before the hall becomes visible, although there are fine views over the fields and autumn tinted woods to keep one entertained. Finally the impressive building comes into view, framed by trees. Guided tours are advertised and the hall is under the Lytham Town Trust who are undertaking its ongoing restoration.
The fair was free but it was a pound to park a vehicle, however nobody seemed to think my bicycle was a vehicle – hurrah!
Tea room and event space is sited in the supporting buildings, including the former stables, to the main hall. It’s all very cosy and I liked that the stalls were in penny packets across the complex. Despite a good attendance, it seemed easy to move around. The tea room was open and there was a field kitchen in a central courtyard, where I secured a fine cup of tea for a pound. One room had a literally roaring log fire, handy as iron log racks were being sold there (too expensive for me I’m afraid).
Artistic standards were very high, although as always seems to be the case, some of the material was a bit cutesy for me (for some reason arts fair people don’t often seem inspired by Goya). However having said this, this time I was rather taken, particularly by some of the textile art that was there. Also some of the animal paintings available seemed to have more edge than the ‘flopsy bunnies’ to which one becomes accustomed.
As well as paintings there was paper cutting, jewellery, collectibles, ceramics, greetings cards and wire-work. This was really an arts and craft fair with florists and candle-makers also present; a good variety of stalls with something of interest to most people. I could have spent quite a lot of money, if I had it. I did buy a beeswax candle and ‘found’ timber candle-holder, which will be our Christmas meal centre-piece. Naturally there was a strong Christmas flavour to many of the stalls.
This event was well worth the time and a few cycling calories and I’ll be looking to return to attend future events. I would also like to take one of the guided tours of the hall itself, which is clearly a fascinating building. There are snippets of information about it sited around the event space and courtyard. An afternoon well spent.
For more information about Hopeful & Glorious fairs you can like them on Facebook or follow on Twitter @hopefulglorious.
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