By Poppy Walker
The ever-popular Lambeth Country Show has been recognised as Britain’s friendliest event at a national awards ceremony.
The annual Brockwell Park event, organised by Lambeth council, scooped the title at the National Outdoor Events Association (NOEA) awards annual dinner last month.
The free show, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, welcomed more than 150,000 south Londoners in 2013.
Lambeth council announced it was to cancel the event in 2012, but the show was reinstated in September that year after a massive campaign by Brixton residents and the Brixton Blog.
Lee Fiorentino, Lambeth’s event service manager, said: “We are delighted to win the award category for the Lambeth Country Show 2013. It is a testament to all who work on the show to make it happen and to all attendees who support the show.”
Neil Marcus, from Red Man Events and a lecturer at Cardiff Metropolitan University chaired the judging panel.
He said: “The Lambeth Country Show gives back to the local community and meets the needs of the local community.”
The country show mixes all the fun of a rural county show with a distinct urban flavour. Think strong scrumpy cider, reggae and jerk chicken with a bit of sheep shearing thrown in.
The show will be celebrating its 40th anniversary on July 19 and 20 this year.
