WHAT DOES PARK & LYME FESTIVAL LOOK FOR FROM APPLICANTS?

Due to the size of PARK & LYME, festival trading experience is essential. Feedback from other traders tells us this is invaluable especially when planning stock levels and staffing.

When completing your application, please ensure stall and pitch sizes are accurate. We need to know precisely what space you require – do not guess. We use the information you give us to plan our market areas and are unable to make changes once space has been allocated. We request four measurements from you – stall width and depth and pitch width and depth. Stall sizes must include your trading structure and any additional kitchen/preparation area you may have. The pitch sizes need to include your stall as well as an exact width for guy ropes/tow hooks and in terms of depth, space for any essential onsite vehicles, trailers, caravans, campervans and space for your staff to camp. Please remember space is at a premium and onsite vehicles and caravans will be limited. Entry to your stall will be via a gate leading into the back of the market area rather than through the front of your stall therefore please ensure the pitch size you give is exact. We will be asking successful applicants to draw their pitch layout which must include the stall itself, all allocated onsite vehicles and the area required for camping.

IS THERE ANYTHING I AM NOT ALLOWED TO SELL?

In your application we would ask that you give details of everything you wish to sell onsite. Successful applicants will be advised in their Offer to Trade of any products listed on their application that cannot be sold. We are very careful to minimiSe product clashes across site and selling products without prior authorisation from the Main Markets Office will be considered a breach of the Terms & Conditions. Contraband items are detailed in our Terms and Conditions which form part of the application process.

Traders are not permitted to sell alcohol including for example brandy coffee or Grand Marnier crepes.

WHAT SHOULD I BEAR IN MIND BEFORE APPLYING?

Use of the PARK & LYME Festival logo, name (including just the name PARK & LYME/ PARK N LYME) and/or images on any goods or promotional material is strictly prohibited. This applies to social media, websites, and press coverage.

Ground conditions can become very wet; you must ensure you are prepared. A raised floor can be particularly important for food traders. You stall must be sturdy enough to sustain strong wind and heavy rain throughout the Festival. You and your staff need to be prepared for all weather conditions.

All food must be served in/on disposables made from either wood, paper/cardboard or leaves, this includes straws and pizza trays (pizza boxes are not permitted). The rules around composting are very strict and using non-compliant disposables may mean you are not invited back to trade in the future. Disposables labelled as compostable may not meet our requirements; Pronto-Pack are our approved wholesaler and will be able to advise successful applicants if unsure.

Fish, charcoal and wood must be from a certified sustainable source.

The collection of cash or data on behalf of charities/campaigning organisations is prohibited without prior permission from the Main Markets Office. This includes a collection box on the front of your stall.
Sub-contracting, sub-letting or the sharing of a stall or any part of a stall is strictly forbidden. We expect the Trader applying to be the Trader running and managing the stall on site.

No Generators are allowed on-site.

Traders successful in their application must only sell approved goods at prices specified in their application and agreed with the Main Markets Office. The festival reserves the right to restrict your product list. Traders found to be selling products on site which are not on their application form risk not being invited to trade in the future.

Traders wishing to sell goods or services to festival-goers in advance of the Festival (ie. Pre-orders) must have prior permission from the Main Markets office

There are a number of Deaf and disabled customers, artists, and crew are on-site every year. Click here to download a PDF of Access Guidelines for Traders. 

WHAT IF I DON’T NEED A PITCH, CAN I JUST WALK ABOUT AND SELL MY GOODS?

No. All approved traders must have a static pitch from which to trade. Mobile/roaming traders and fly-pitchers are strictly prohibited. Anyone found to be selling products without the authorisation of the Main Markets Office will have their items confiscated and may be evicted from site.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A STALL ON BEHALF OF A CHARITY/CAMPAIGNING ORGANISATION?

To apply, please complete the relevant traders application form, giving as much information about what you do and what you would bring to the Festival. Please include photos and sketches to help with our assessment.

WHAT DOCUMENTATION DO I NEED?

Whether you come to site as a food trader, crew caterer, bar, non-food trader, charity or campaigner, you are operating as a legitimate business and as such have to comply with current legislation. Regardless of whether or not you are selling a product or service to the public, you will need documentation in place, some of which will be requested in advance of the Festival. To include, but not exclusively:-
– Public and Employers Liability Insurance Certificates
– Food traders are required to carry £2m cover
– Non-food traders £1m cover
– Health & Safety Documentation (Policies, Risk Assessments including COVID-19 Risk Assesment and Fire Risk Assessment, Training Records etc.)
– PAT Test Certification
– Gas Safety Certificates (where applicable)
– Written Scheme of Examination for all pressurized Systems (including coffee machines)
– Food Safety Management System (SFBB, NCASS, COOKSAFE or similar)
– Food Hygiene Training Certificate (food handlers only)
– Written allergen information on all unpackaged food. Please note, the law on Allergens is set to change. Soon all Pre-Packaged Food for Direct Sales (PPDS) will need to carry allergen advice in the same way as packaged food is currently required to do. We will be insisting all that all Pre-Packaged Food for Direct Sales (PPDS) carry a full list of ingredients. You may take this opportunity to make this information available for all your product offerings.

Food traders, crew caterers and bars MUST be registered with a Local Authority.

All food traders, bars and crew caterers will be visited onsite by Food Safety Officers.

WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MY APPLICATION?

We will contact each applicant by March 1st to advise them of the outcome of their application.

GDPR

Your application data will only be used within the Festival office for the purpose of assessing suitability for trading at Park & Lyme Festival and will be held by us for a maximum of 7 years. Contact details of successful food traders will be passed on to our approved wholesalers to allow the sharing of price lists and other relevant information. Your details will not be shared or sold to any third parties. If you wish for us to delete your data after the Festival, please email events@m2kentertainment.com