One of the longest-running flower shows in the world has been cancelled. Shrewsbury Flower Show, which started in 1875, will no longer be running its 2025 edition amid growing financial strain.
The Shropshire Horticultural Society, responsible for the event, has been struggling to make the event profitable for some time. The pandemic coupled with a bomb scare in 2023 have made recent years deeply challenging for the organisers.
“In the next 10 years we will be insolvent”
Chairman Maelor Owen told BBC that this piece of history must now face reality: “[For] people who have been with the society for a long time, it is safe to say people have looked at these things with their heart rather than their head.
“But if we continue the way we are then in the next 10 years we will be insolvent.”
Margaret Thrower, a horticulturalist from Shrewsbury who has been associated with the event for most of her life, said the Show “has got into a bit of a rut and just hasn’t managed to get out of it.”
In 2024, the Show incurred losses greater than anticipated, with over £150,000 spent on security and barriers. In total, the event made a loss of £400,000 loss, a shocking amount that prompted rapid action.
Recent tax hikes and increases to the minimum wage have made these losses unsustainable. Owen said: “Recent changes to National Insurance and the minimum wage, combined with the cost of living crisis, mean that further extensive losses would be incurred should we proceed with the 2025 Show.”
Shrewsbury Town Council also added that the introduction of Martyn’s Law would introduce new, challenging responsibilities for event organisers.
Helen Ball, town clerk of Shrewsbury Town Council, told BBC: “The Shrewsbury Flower Show is more than just a weekend event – it’s part of who we are as a town.” She acknowledged the increasing pressures faced by event organisers and thanked the Shropshire Horticultural Society for their dedication.
Local businesses have also voiced concerns about the economic impact of the cancellation. Danielle Ditella, owner of The Loopy Shrew and Darwin’s Townhouse, noted that all their accommodation was fully booked as a direct result of the flower show. This is important revenue that will now be leaving Shropshire.
“Maybe someone else could take it on?”
Maelor Owen offered a note of positivity, saying that the event could be revived. “Shrewsbury has got some great entrepreneurs,” he said. “Maybe someone else could take it on?”
The Shrewsbury Flower Show was traditionally held on the second Friday and Saturday of August. It has been a major feature of the town’s summer calendar since 1875 – recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the “longest-running flower show” in the world. The event typically attracts around 60,000 visitors over two days.
Its cancellation not only marks the end of a long-standing tradition but also signifies a substantial economic impact on Shrewsbury and the wider Shropshire region, affecting local businesses and tourism revenue.
