Fayre on the Square and the Salisbury City Garden returned this weekend for another year of summer celebration.

Friday 22nd July saw the soft launch of Fayre on the Square with Salisbury City Councillors and local business owners in attendance.

Salisbury Radio broadcast the Grant Francis Show live from the event, with Craig and Beth from Breakfast also chatting to the guests, providing the tunes and playing a round of crazy croquet with the Mayor and Mayoress.

This year’s summer celebration includes a new, Jubilee-themed, nine-hoop ‘Crazy Croquet’ course, which visitors can enjoy from 10am until 8pm every day for £4 per person.

There are also table tennis tables which visitors can enjoy for £2 per person, or for free if they have their own bat and balls after the event has closed.

Speaking to Love Salisbury, Lol Wilde from Salisbury City Council said, “We’ve got our crazy croquet this year, we have a couple of table tennis tables too that you can have a go at. The Salisbury City Garden have returned with their lovely bar.

“On non-market days we will have our deck chairs out with our ice cream van, so even if you are popping into town and are looking for somewhere to sit down for 10-15 minutes and enjoy the scenery then come along!“

Speaking to the Mayor at the launch event, Tom Corbin said this about the return of Fayre on the Square, “Isn’t it wonderful?! Here for another six weeks of summer joy in front of the Guildhall. It is great to have us all here enjoying ourselves.

“The one thing I am particularly looking forward to is some Crazy Croquet. Maybe we could even have a game against Love Salisbury?!”

Grant Francis, Mayor Tom Corbin, Craig Hicks and Mayoress Caroline Corbin

A game between Salisbury Radio’s Craig and Beth and the Mayor and Mayoress (Tom and Caroline Corbin) took place around the ‘Big Ben’ hoop. Tom and Beth were a team and Craig and Caroline were a team – both were pretty unsuccessful at getting their balls around the crazy Big Ben course and through the hoop. However, Caroline did manage to play the bay through the legs of her teammate!

Listen to some of the highlights from the live broadcast here:

Salisbury City Garden is also back to bring vibrancy to the city, serving up cold drinks, coffees, soft drinks, premium spirits and champagne, plus luxurious alcoholic slushies from the Whimsical Forager.

Aimee and Dave Hancock from the local hospitality businesses Tinga, Caboose and Deacons will be running this year’s bar.

Speaking to Love Salisbury Aimee said, “We are elated to have won the tender to bring Salisbury City Garden Bar back for 2022 and 2023. We feel our immersive ethos and style can now truly flourish, as we are finally able to operate without pandemic restrictions.

“We are hoping to bring even more vibrancy than we have in the past two years and make the city come alive again and help all the local businesses really benefit from everyone staying within the town.

“We have DJs, a Pimm’s deck and lots of lovely tipples on offer for a right royal affair! Delicious food, crazy croquet and of course, high-quality premium drinks are a solid foundation for a fun day out in the city over the next six weeks.”

Video by Brunton Media

The Salisbury City Garden bar is open 11am until 11pm Monday to Saturday and 11am until 10.30pm on Sundays.

But the summer festivities don’t stop there, street food vendors including Charter 1227 Catering have returned this year with their Greek Gringo offering, plus some traditional British fish and chips and a new burger featuring Chef Danny’s special mushroom sauce.

Simon from Chater 1227 Catering said, “We are very excited to be back we have our standard Greek menu with our halloumi, chicken and pork Souvlakis which are proving really popular.

“We are also running another chalet this year with fish and chips, loaded fries, and some very exciting burgers – one Fayre on the Square Burger with Danny’s special mushroom sauce and some other special ingredients too.”

*Danny* Bozic – Executive Chef and founder of Charter 1227 Catering

The Happy Fruiters have also joined the foodie corner of Fayre on the Square for the first time this year, serving some delicious and nutritious fruit cups including berries, melon and some very British strawberries and cream.

The team at The Happy Fruiters said, “We are super proud of the boys and how busy behind the scenes they have been getting this ready to be at Fayre on the Square.

“If you are out and about in Salisbury over the summer and fancy a healthy snack, make sure to pop by and get yourself a yummy summer fruit pot.”