Long-term deal for funfairs at two Haringey parks

Haringey Council has struck a five-year agreement with Manning’s Amusements for events at Finsbury Park and Ducketts Common, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Annual funfairs at Finsbury Park and Ducketts Common are set to continue over the next five years as Haringey keeps up a 40-year tradition.

Manning’s Amusements Ltd, applied to Haringey Council to host an Easter family funfair and a summer funfair in Finsbury Park, with both events lasting around 17 days in March/April and August respectively.

They also applied to host a summer fair in Ducketts Common for approximately ten days in June/July.

The three events will run from 2024 until 2028.

Manning’s has a “long history” of operating funfairs in the borough, and has hosted funfairs for nearly 100 years in Bruce Castle Park and an Easter and summer bank holiday funfair in Finsbury Park for 40 years and in 2019 “brought back” the funfair in Ducketts Common.

Manning’s will use approximately 4% of Finsbury Park for the events, while in Ducketts Common the “large green space towards the south end” of the park has been marked for the event, equating to around 31%.

Attendance is estimated at 1,000 visitors per day for Ducketts Common and up to 1,500 in Finsbury Park. The council has also said public facilities such as the sports courts and play areas will remain open throughout.

A consultation which included friends groups, ward councillors, area park managers and local resident associations took place in autumn 2023. Of the consultees listed in a council report, none made any comments on the applications.

Haringey Council’s assistant director for direct services, Mark Stevens, said: “Funfairs in Haringey parks and green open spaces have been entertaining the borough’s children and young families for many decades.

“It’s therefore fantastic that – subject to the relevant approvals and statutory processes – we’re going to be keeping up this tradition in Ducketts Common and Finsbury Park for the next five years.

“These small-scale, community-focused events are great places for children and their parents to socialise, relax and unwind as they enjoy the arcades, entertainment and fun rides on offer together.

“This five-year agreement also ensures funfairs will have a regular presence in the borough through to 2027, when Haringey will proudly be the London Borough of Culture, and beyond.

“It’s fundamentally important for our local heritage that we continue to maintain such historically significant pastimes and pursuits now and in the future.”

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