Forced to call time on the Ally Pally fair after 25 years

Sunday, November 19 may well be the last Pig & Whistle Promotions fair because of
unacceptable terms in the new contract the venue’s management have presented to the fair organiser.

There is some hope that the fair will be revived when a new management firm takes over the venue next year, but for the moment Lindy Berkman has confirmed that she has been unable to negotiate successfully with the current management, Alexandra Palace Trading Limited.

“I’m really sad to be in this position and it was never my intention to give up organising fairs at Ally Pally,” Ms Berkman told ATG.

“Although on paper the new contract looks very attractive as the rent was lower than 2006, the problem area is within the services provision, which has always included the advertising posters for the fair which were put up within the borough of Haringey. These will be replaced with banners and I shall have to pay for them – several thousands. I simply don’t have the financial margins to take the extra risk.”

The trustees of Alexandra Palace and the Palace Charitable Trust development chose Firoka to redevelop the site. They are due to take over some time in 2007 and Ms Berkman hopes to resume contract negotiations with them, although they have yet to sign the lease.

“Along with many other fair organisers, I’m finding that trade is not what it was and the waiting lists are not there any more,” she added. “One aspect that’s been difficult is that Alexandra Palace Trading Ltd will not negotiate, nor will they meet me to discuss the contract.”

Starting in 1982, Lindy Berkman organised Pig & Whistle Promotions Fairs at Ally Pally with Alan Kipping, with the fairs held in the Alexandra Pavilion. During that time Alan Kipping started Wonder Whistle Promot-ions Fairs at Sandown Park. In 1988 Pig & Whistle Promotions moved to Ally Pally’s Great Hall.

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By Joan Porter