Coolings craft for stallholders

Coolings Nurseries is a well-known garden centre with four sites in Kent & Sussex. The largest of these is at Knockholt between Sevenoaks and Bromley - TN14 7NN. They have been voted Which Magazine’s Best UK Garden Centre for both 2010 & 2011 and in Spring their footfall can be upwards of 5,000 people over a weekend (split roughly equally and weather dependent). It is lower during the rest of the year, but nevertheless significant.

The Keep it Local team first ran a series of successful craft shows at Coolings in 2012. Just 15 stalls in the Lecture Room (now office space). The visitors were delighted with the standard and variety of work offered, despite the small venue. Then in 2013, we were able to use the lovely marquee on Arthur's Lawn which Coolings put up on for their Centenary events and in 2014 we moved into the spacious glasshouse events building. In 2015 and 2016 we learned that June is just too hot in a glasshouse, so we organised three events in the glasshouse in 2017 and one on Arthur's Lawn. This venue is our only site - our largest event is our Christmas one when we see upwards of 80 stalls exhibiting and getting on for 5,000 visitors over the three days.

There are two sizes of pitch available at Coolings. See the application form for a full price list, but here are two example. The deeper ones - 3 metres deep - which tend to be around the edge are £64 for a 2 metre wide space per day. Our standard pitch (depth 1.4m) is £44 for a 2 metre frontage per day. Wider pitches are discounted. Power is available and must be pre-booked at £5 per day. 6ft tables may be hired at £6 per day. Chairs are included FOC. So, for example, if you book a space of 1.4m deep by 2m frontage for one day that would be £40 - VAT is not applicable.

All of our Coolings Craft events run from Friday to Sunday, 10:00 - 4:00pm.

Spring 11th - 13th March 2022

Midsummer 17th - 19th June 2022 (This event is in gazebos on Arthur's lawn unless the weather's nasty)

Autumn 16th - 18th September 2022

Christmas 2nd - 4th December 2022

We welcome on average over 1200 visitors to this venue each day. We advertise in Coolings' Cuttings Magazine which goes out to 36,000 homes locally and put posters up in libraries, post offices, village halls, corner shops and supermarkets within a ten mile radius.

Coolings specialise in plants. They are an award winning nursery - one of the largest in the country. There is plenty of free parking and the wonderful Arthur's restaurant on site. Coolings address is Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, Kent TN14 7NN. Tel: 01959 532269

Security

Coolings only have checkouts at the exit to the whole site, so they are not used to customers having paid for things and then walking out carrying goods and not stopping at the checkouts. So to help the checkout staff, please wrap all your goods rather than allowing a visitor to leave our building carrying a purchase in their hands.

Directions

Coolings have two sites in and around Knockholt – we are at The Gardeners Garden Centre, Rushmore Hill, Knockholt, TN14 7NN (not the Green and Pleasant site in Knockholt village). Coming from the M25, exit at J4 A21 to Bromley. At the second roundabout along the A21, turn left into Pratt’s Bottom (yes!) towards Knockholt. This road is called Rushmore Hill. Go through the village and up a wooded hill. After a “logs for sale” sign on the left, you will see a circular mirror on the right hand side of the road, Coolings entrance is about 30 yards after this on the left. When you get into the site, turn right and continue up the slope past the shop front. Carry on until you reach large electronic gates into the private Coolings area. You will be met there by one of us who will point you towards the unloading and parking areas.