Before the local spectacle that is Funderpark Stanworths set up a little funfair in Newcastle-Under-Lyme to whet the appetite for the main event.
After a strange experience heading down to Kidsgrove and Longton for the last Stanworths family fun fair and being greeted with a handful of rides in an empty field I was surprised to walk into the exact same event at Newcastle Under Lyme and be greeted with such atmosphere.
From dogems to an Orbital and beautiful carousel it was already head and shoulders above the Kidsgrove spectacle.
With hand sanitiser at every ride and signs dotted around the place it was clear to see that safety was in the minds of the organisers but with no staff or one-way system around the cramped little car park things got a little bit hectic to say the least.
People were all huddled together and no one was saying anything about it.
The safest I felt, was on the rides.
With no queue-line to speak of everyone was crowding around the entrances and when we got on the rides you could breathe a sigh of relief.
The dodgems were as smooth as silk and very well maintained, the Orbital had a great cycle and had just enough intensity to please adults and kids alike and thankfully as the day went on the crowds dispersed.
The queue for the tokens booth was causing all of the crowds stretching a good 100 bodies (no exaggeration) towards the entrance/exit of the funfair itself!
It said ‘Covid Secure’ on all of the posters and signs dotted around the events and whilst Stanworths certainly did all they could on their part (minus staff or a one-way system) there are still far too many ignorant people around.
With a junior coaster, inflatable and more there was definitely plenty to do as music and the smell of grilled onions wafted through the air and tickled the nostrils.
If this was just a little teaser of the much bigger and more insane Funderpark event when the big-boy rides come out to play then I’m very much looking forward to it.
The staff were lovely and friendly.
The rides were running as smooth as ever.
I just wish that I wasn’t so close to the people in-front of me, close enough to breathe in the waft of freshly sprayed Lynx Africa.
Hats off to Stanworths on providing a wonderful selection of rides but if these measures are to be kept in place for a longer period of time then something more needs to be done to avoid the crowding and bottlenecking.
Onwards we go to Funderpark!
Check out our VLOG from Stanworths Family Fun Fair on Lift Hills and Thrills.
