How much does the Spring Festival cost?
When is Ludlow Spring Festival open?
What are the tokens for?
Can I buy more tokens?
Can I cash in unused tokens?
Is there a cash machine in the castle?
Is there a bureau de change?
Do you take credit cards?
What happens to the profits?
My partner doesn't like beer, why should he/she go to the Spring Festival?
I want to help. How do I become a volunteer?
How do I find accommodation in Ludlow?
Can I book accommodation through you?
Can I bring a coach party or other group?
How do I get a stand in the Spring Festival?
Does everything take place in the castle?
Is there disabled access?
Do you cater for vegetarians?
Where are the car parks?
Can I bring my dog?
Is there anything for children to do?
What about the quality of the food and drink at the Festival?
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How much does the Spring Festival cost?
Adults £5 each, children £1.50 each.
When is the Spring Festival open?
5 pm to 9 pm on Friday 6 May for Meet the Brewer
10 am to 9 pm on Saturday 7 May
10 am to 5 pm on Sunday 8 May
What are the tokens for?
Tokens can be purchased at any time from the Token Stand, situated near the 'Festival Pub' - cash only. Tokens are worth £1 each and can be used at any of the stalls inside the Event. Tokens have to be used for buying beer in the 'Festival Pub' - money is not accepted.
Unused tokens can be refunded before you leave the castle. We cannot make refunds after you have left.
Is there a cash machine in the castle?
No, but there are cash machines at all the major banks, within 5 minutes walk: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, NatWest, Nationwide. There is also a Link machine outside the Post Office (One Stop Shop, Upper Galdeford) (a fee is charged), and a cash machine (no fee) coutside Tesco (the car park side).
Is there a bureau de change?
The Post Office (at the One Stop Shop, Upper Galdeford, next door to Somerfield), and the four banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds TSB, NatWest) all have foreign exchange facilities (converting to pounds). These are all within 5 minutes walk of the castle.
Do you take credit cards?
At the entrance to the castle, payments for admission can only be made with cash, or a personal cheque backed with a bank card. Online ticket sales will shortly be available until the week before the Event for payment by credit or debit card - see this page.
Many individual vendors inside the Event do take credit cards - though not the 'Festival Pub'. But it is always useful to have cash with you!
What happens to the profits?
The Spring Festival is operated by Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival, which is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Any surpluses can only be used for financing the next year's events, or for otherwise furthering the aims of the festival, which are to promote and assist independent, quality food and drink producers and suppliers in Ludlow and the Marches. Surpluses cannot be paid as dividends to the members. Much of the work of the Spring Festival and the Food Festival is done by volunteers - it simply wouldn't work without them, but we do have two permanent, part-time employees.
My partner doesn't like beer, why should he/she go to the Spring Festival?
There are many other drinks to sample at the Spring Festival, such as English wine, perry and cider. Please see 'Festival Pub' and What's On for details.
How do I find accommodation in Ludlow?
A list of accommodation in Ludlow and surrounding areas can be found here.
Can I book accommodation through you?
No, the Spring Festival is unable to help you book accommodation, but please visit www.ludlow.org.uk for information about accommodation, or contact Ludlow Visitor Information Centre on 01584 875363.
Can I bring a coach party or other group?
Yes, coach parties - and other groups - are welcome, but please help us to help you by contacting us in advance. Please contact the office for more information.
How do I get a stand in the Spring Festival?
Please contact our office for more information. Please also note that we apply strict quality and geographical criteria (the Welsh Marches area ONLY) to applications for stands, and the demand for space far outstrips supply. Contact details.
Is there disabled access?
All events in Ludlow Castle are suitable for wheelchair access. The entrance to the Castle itself has a rough cobbled surface and a wheelchair user may require assistance - readily available on request - for this short section. If you have any special needs or need further information, please contact us in advance on 01584 873957, or email us. We will do all we possibly can to help.
Do you cater for vegetarians?
Yes of course, including vegetarian sausages!
Where are the car parks?
The three principal public car parks in the centre of Ludlow are at Upper Galdeford/Station Drive, Lower Galdeford, and Castle Street. They operate on a pay-and-display basis. Further information about parking for the Spring Festival will be shown on this page, when available. Click here for Ludlow map with car parks featured
Can I bring my dog?
Unforunately due to the nature of the event dogs will not allowed into the Spring Festival (except guide dogs for the blind).
Is there anything for children to do?
Most things in the Festival will be suitable for, and of interest to, all the family, apart from alcoholic beverages.
Activities that will be of particular interest to children (and also adults) include Kids Cook Art and some of the Talks and Demonstrations.
What about the quality of the food and drink at the Spring Festival?
We try hard to ensure that all food and drink supplied at, and associated with the Spring Festival, is of the highest taste quality and of the highest standard of production - almost all of it is produced by small independent producers from the Welsh Marches area. As well as taste quality which is paramount (it has to taste good, and will almost always taste better than the equivalent from industrialised, globalised large-scale production, and be better for your health), we try to ensure that products are produced with respect to the environment.
