One of the world’s longest-running flower shows has been cancelled. The Shrewsberry Flower Show, which began in 1875, will no longer run the 2025 edition amid rising financial tensions.
The Shropshire Horticultural Society, which is responsible for the event, has struggled for a while to make the event profitable. The pandemic, which tied to the 2023 bomb horror, has become deeply challenging for organizers in recent years.
“In the next 10 years, we will be insolvent.”
Chairman Maelor Owen told the BBC that part of this history must now face reality.[For] People who have been involved in society for a long time are safe to say that people have seen these things with a heart rather than their heads.
“But if we continue the way we are in the next decade, we will go bankrupt.”
Shrewsbury gardener Margaret Slower has been associated with events for much of her life, but the show said “it was a little bit of a bit and I couldn’t get out of it.”
In 2024, the show suffered more losses than expected, spending over £150,000 on security and barriers. In total, the event lost £400,000. This was a shocking amount and prompted rapid action.
Recent tax payments and increases to minimum wages have made these losses unsustainable. Owen said: “The recent national insurance and minimum wage, coupled with the costs of the living crisis, means that if we go ahead with the 2025 show, we’ll suffer even greater losses.”
The Shrewsbury Town Council also added that the introduction of Martin’s law will introduce new and challenging liability for event organizers.
Helenball, the town clerk of the Shrewsbury Town Council, told the BBC: She acknowledged the increased pressure faced by event organizers and thanked the Shropshire Horticultural Society for their dedication.
Local businesses have also expressed concern about the economic impact of cancellations. Daniel Diterra, owner of Loopy Tullew and Darwin townhouses, noted that all accommodations are fully booked as a direct result of the flower show. This is a significant revenue that is currently leaving Shropshire.
“Maybe someone else can take it?”
Maelor Owen provided a note of positivity, saying the event could be revived. “There are great entrepreneurs in Shrewsbury,” he said. “Maybe someone else can take it?”
The Shrewsberry 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, and has been recognized by Guinness Records as the “longest-running flower show” in the world. The event usually attracts around 60,000 visitors over two days.
That cancellation means not only the end of a long-standing tradition, but also a major economic impact on Shrewsbury and the wider Shropshire region, affecting local businesses and tourism revenues.
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