Organisers behind the Kenilworth Carnival have confirmed a new location has been found for this year’s funfair - subject to final approval from Historic England.

Having been told in December by Warwick District Council (WDC) the annual funfair would not be permitted on its usual spot by the car park in Abbey Fields, organisers behind the annual event have been working hard to find a new place to host it.

Following several meetings with WDC, Kenilworth Town Council and local MP Sir Jeremy Wright, the committee is “delighted” to announce the funfair will take place in Abbey Fields - but on the Forrest Road side of the park, where the Lions’ Grand Show is usually held.

And organisers have confirmed the funfair will run from Thursday to Sunday on the weekend of June 29.

“A decision has been made. As long as we get the approval from Historic England, we are going to move onto the site with the funfair and have the procession from the Forrest Road side of Abbey Fields,” carnival chair Anne Brough told Nub News.

“We are absolutely delighted. 

“It was Sir Jeremy Wright who initiated things after I contacted him for a meeting, he got the ball rolling. So great thanks to him. 

“And also thanks to the public of Kenilworth who are behind us and supporting this historic event.

“It has been marvellous knowing people are supporting us and they like the event and they want it to continue.”

Stalls in Abbey Fields during the 2023 carnival weekend (image by James Smith)

WDC had blamed the growing size of the funfair and the impacts of climate change on the ground in Abbey Fields for withdrawing permission at the end of last year.

A statement from the council said its green spaces team had been assessing the "damage being caused to both the trees and the ground beneath" following the previous instalments of the event.

But Anne said the council had been particularly helpful in finding a solution for the carnival.

“They are going to do a lot of work for us,” she added. 

“They are going to widen the gate and sort the entrance, because they want that to be not just for the carnival but for any events in Kenilworth, the events site known for Kenilworth. 

“They are going to do a lot of work to make it beautiful for the carnival and for any other event for years to come.”

Anne also said the committee had considered other locations, but ultimately wanted to find a workable solution for Abbey Fields.

This will also keep the procession - which will start from Forrest Road - and the funfair will be kept together.

“We looked at other locations, people suggested locations, but we felt that it needed to be central,” Anne explained. 

“It has been in Abbey Fields for years and we wanted to stick to our guns. 

“We looked at other sites but we thought it would be disjointed if the floats and procession were elsewhere. We felt it wouldn’t have been the right way forward to go elsewhere.”

Hundreds of residents lined the streets to see the carnival parade last summer (image by James Smith)

Emily Wilson from Bob Wilson’s Funfair added: “Bob Wilson’s Funfairs would like to thank the local community, local traders and suppliers, very very much for all their support in pushing to get the carnival fair back where it belongs.

“It has been a very stressful few weeks, it [the funfair] is our everything. 

“We have been there for over 100 years. To do away with the fair was doing away with entertainment for the people of Kenilworth that love it and support it. 

“It belongs in the Abbey Fields. That is where it has always been.”

However, as well as waiting on final sign off from Historic England, the carnival committee is also still in desperate need to raise funds for the 2024 installment.

“We still need to raise money for the event,” Anne explained. 

“We need to raise around £7,000. Kenilworth Town Council has given us a grant, and Warwick District Council has told us to apply for one. 

“But we need Kenilworth companies and businesses to come on board and sponsor a float, the carnival king and queen and so on. We need people to come forward and help.”

Contact [email protected] if you can help.

The carnival procession will still meet along Forrest Road (imaeg via SWNS)