London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Clapham's legendary Winterville will not be taking place this year

Clapham's legendary Winterville will not be taking place this year

The council won't reveal why but there were complaints last year about the state the Christmas fair left the common in
We're sorry to have to bring you this devastating news, but it's official, Winterville is not happening this year.

The Clapham Common version of Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland was famous for offering an "alternative" festive experience, including the classics such as ice skating and a fairground to more exotic treats such as an 18+ puppet show and a "Spiegeltent" where you could watch Mexican wrestling, along with other great entertainment.

But alas, Christmas 2019 will not feature any of these great experiences in Clapham .

Instead you'll have to find another Christmas fair to try out.

Our suspicions were roused when the Winterville website had not been updated, still listing its 2018 dates, and there were no social media posts.

After some (sort of) thorough investigative journalism Lambeth Council confirmed that "unfortunately this event will not be taking place this year".

The council added that it is "unable to provide further information as to why Winterville will not be taking place".

What is known is that plenty of locals were fed up of the inconvenience caused by having so many people trampling around the area.

In particular there was upset about the damage done to the site.

The Open Spaces Society protested against the "unacceptable damage to Clapham Common" and appealed to the council to not allow the event to take place.

It argued that the area was closed off for five months after the event and in August the ground was "still mainly bare compacted earth with minimal grass cover".

The society claims that the planning application made to the council received 227 objections against 52 representations in support in 2018, and in September 2019 published a piece stating that Lambeth Council had "bowed to pressure".

The council wrote in a letter that it would in future seek permission from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs before structures can be erected on Clapham Common, thus allowing more public consultation.

In the same letter the council revealed it would cost £200,000 to restore the grassy events site - but it said instead Winterville would be moved to a hard, surfaced area of the common.

This plan now seems to have been abandoned.

Perhaps by 2020 the council and the public will have come to an agreement on how to hold the famous festival without damaging the land, and we can get back to festive fun.

Or maybe it will be a case of bah humbug for ever more.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×