What’s happened at Shugborough?
Anyone who visited either of the recent music and fireworks concerts at Shugborough Hall will be dismayed that, due to ‘issues with the venue’, the organisers will not be using the beautiful and fabulous country estate in the future.
City Concert Organisation join a growing number of other event organisers who are now finding new venues having used 
Shugborough for many years. A great shame because when the magnificent WW2 Spitfire came from nowhere climbing into the sky from behind Shuborough Hall, with the Dam Busters music filling the air, it was truly spectacular…. the hairs on the back of my neck are on end just writing about it!
Shugborough Estate, which is part of Staffordshire County Council, could and should be a public Jewel in the Crown for the people of Staffordshire and beyond but judging by the problems above and the significant number of complaints I’ve received about the new restrictions and ‘arrangements’ for walkers wanting to visit, it does appear to be falling from grace at an alarming rate.
And that is a great shame.
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We used to visit Shugborough a lot. We also used to take visitors there also.
The changes over the last year or so are not people friendly and consequently we no longer visit. As you say, a great shame.
I didn’t realise that the County Council were also reponsible for Shugborough as well.
As someone who is not particularly political, I must admit that the care homes fiasco, the farm sell off (I’m a farmer but not beholden to the County, thank God) other stuff I’ve read and forgotten about and now this all mean I am now taking an interest.
It is clear to me that the Labour Party have got to go in Staffordshire at least. The national picture is less clear to me.
Can I just confirm that the famous summer concerts staged by the city concert orchestra are going ahead as usual this summer - see http://www.shugborough.org.uk for details. Aug 1 & 2 2008
Shugborough is indeed managed by the county council, and yes we have changed the access to a pay only site.
This is simply to not burden the taxpayer with the cost of running the beautiful attraction. The plan is to be self sufficient within 6 years, and not rely on thre tax payers of staffordshire to pay for the running of the estate. The new paid entrance (which is as little as £3 for a garden ticket, £9.50 for a seniors full entry (plus parking fee refunded), under 5s FREE and it us just £15 for an annual pass for a senior citizen allowing unlimited access to all of the e estate for a year) helps us keep vandals out too, who were simply using the estate as a place ‘to hang out and cause a nuisance’ for genuine visitors.
Shugborough really still is a jewel, and offers a full day out with restored walled garden, mansion house, farm, servants quarters, working mill, brewery, stunning riverside gardens, monuments, chinese house, tea rooms, train ride, play park, victorian kitchen, victorian schoolroom, puppet museum, animals, petting area, old fashioned sweet shop, gift shop, craft village - plus an army of costumed characters from butlers to maids, from lords to blacksmiths, all working and living an interacting with visitors as they did 300 years ago in amazing buildings and locations.
We did have teething problems when we transformed from a site which allowed anyone to drive all over the 900 acre estae, to the peaceful car free family visitor attractions. We now have a luxury shuttle bus which transports visitors throughout the estate, we have ‘off road’ mobility vehicles for loan, we have new ‘buggy friendly’ paths laid, and staff throught the estate are always on hand to offer a poweful story about the past. Mondays is half price admissiuon for senior citizens, and you get 20% off anything in the restaurant.
Most complaints nowadays are from people who simply want to use Shugborough as somewhere to walk their dogs for free. We find that genuine visitors wanting a great day out love what we have to offer. Why not gives us a try - http://www.shugborough.org.uk
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