Keep calm and curry on: Spice Festival finds new venue

Friday 10 February 2017

Spice Festival has announced its move to Millbrook Park after a brief battle with ancient land laws – plenty of thyme before the cultural event’s 2017 edition.

Bianca Padidar and Sarah Jordan, heads of Spice Arts and Music Festival, learned last month that they would no longer be able to use Grouville Common – the event’s home of four years – after a message from the Chefs Tenants du Fief de La Reine.

The feudal body’s authority over the land stretches back to the Middle Ages, and means that they can give - and take away – permission to use common land at will.

According to Ms Padidar, the event had never encountered any major problems with the Chefs, but that a clash of tradition versus health and safety may have provoked the revocation of rights.

Pictured: A local musician heading up the music tent at Spice Festival 2016.

Speaking at the time, she told Express: “We were aware that the Grouville Chefs Tenants were unhappy about some issue this year due to using barriers around the grounds, which in their eyes restricted the public’s access.

“This relates to an ancient law that means that common land needs public right of way. The barriers are essential for our event for health and safety, trip hazards, and insurance approval. Spice is a free event therefore the public are allowed to freely walk on the grounds.”

Millbrook's Coronation Park should offer plenty of grazing space for the local music, arts and food fest, however. It boasts a carpark, café, and children's playground - all within wheelchair-friendly reach.

Pictured: Local illustrator Abi Overland exhibits her hyper-detailed crockery collection.

Ms Padidar told Express that the pair were "blessed" to find a new location.

In a Facebook post - now with over 200 likes and flooded with congratulatory messages - the Spice Festival organisers thanked the public for their, "suggestions, advice and support."

Spice is now due to take place on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September, and promises a, "...fun family day out with the emphasis on arts and crafts, local talent and small businesses."