Showground for sale but Royal Show will go on
The organisers of the Royal Show have emphatically denied rumours that the event is on the brink of bankruptcy.
H&H had been contacted by individuals concerned about the show’s future, but manager Simon Frere-Cook said the stories were “codswallop”.
He added: “It’s business as usual and the 2008 Royal Show is being planned at the moment.”
But he admitted that closing the final day of this year’s Royal Show to spectators had cost money.
“Cancelling the last day of the show did have financial implications,” he said. “But we’ll absorb those costs — there’s no question of us not doing so.”
The 240-acre showground at Stoneleigh Park, the home of the Royal Show, has been put up for sale, but Mr Frere-Cook said: “The fact the ground is up for sale has nothing to do with us and is just a business activity.”
www.royalshow.org.uk
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
A Cambridge graduate and big racing fan, Karen joined H&H in 2006 first as deputy news editor, and rose to managing editor, via a stint as acting editor of our sister title, Horse. Alongside being vet page editor and running our annual Young Rider special issue, she oversaw our media agreements, round table features, reader panel and more. Karen left Horse & Hound in 2014.