Spring Makers Fair
FEATURING THE SUSSEX DISTILLERS FESTIVAL
A carefully curated showcase of the Sussex’s best independent makers & producers, set across a Grade II-listed Victorian engineering landmark.
Saturday 09 May & Sunday 10 May
10:30am - 5pm
at The British Engineerium, The Droveway, Hove, BN3 7QA
FREE ENTRY*
*Optional Queue Jump Tickets can be purchased from £1.50. These allow you to skip any potential queues that MAY form to get into the main Makers Fair (Coal Shed Exhibition Hall)
Celebrating Sussex's thriving independent scene
Outside marketplace & Sussex Distillers Festival
Access to 10 plus bars run by local makers
Live demonstrations
Live art experiences and workshops
Live music throughout
Barista Coffees & Hot Drinks
Free tastings & sampling
Free entry to Makers Fair & Sussex Distillers Festival
Engineerium Museum in Steam with guided tours
Meet & chat to the makers
Thoughtful gift ideas
This year, Paper Daisy is proudly teaming up with the Sussex Distillers Festival to bring you a truly unique celebration of all things Sussex.
Combining the very best of independent makers with exceptional local distillers, this special collaboration creates a vibrant and immersive experience like no other.
The Spring Makers Fair is a joyful showcase of handmade goods, art, design, and local food and drink. With over 100 exhibitors each day, you’ll discover an inspiring mix of talent from Sussex and beyond - making it a truly memorable shopping experience.
Meet and shop directly from a diverse range of creative small businesses, all set within a stunning historic industrial venue. It’s the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind pieces while supporting independent makers.
WHAT’S ON
A weekend full of inspiration & discovery awaits you.
120+ Makers, Artists & Designers
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10+ Sussex pop-up bars
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Talks, tasters & demos
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120+ Makers, Artists & Designers ✳︎ 10+ Sussex pop-up bars ✳︎ Talks, tasters & demos ✳︎
art & craft workskshops
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Street Food
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Live interactive art experiences
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Live Music throughout
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art & craft workskshops ✳︎ Street Food ✳︎ Live interactive art experiences ✳︎ Live Music throughout ✳︎
Guided tours of museum in steam
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Line dancing
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Local food & drink producers
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Guided tours of museum in steam ✳︎ Line dancing ✳︎ Local food & drink producers ✳︎
meet the makers
Alice Carter Ceramics - AndMash - Annabelle Sargent Design - Atelier Bricolage - August Glass Designs - Bea And Basil Crafts - Beretun Designs - Bird Stamp Designs - Blauhaus - Bon Vivant Ltd - bun ceramics - Burning Bright - Cephalopod Scenes - Chapman's Aromatics - Claire Murray Ceramics - CORKiE - Curing Rebels - Curly Lulu - Don't bite my nails - Drawn to Nature - Earth Botanicals - Elena London - Elia - Elle & Jay - Emily Kate Henshall - Enamelhappy - Fox and Fowl - Fractal Designs - Fru Fru Tulip - Fruitology - Fused glass by Donna - Glitter and Gem - GN Jewellery - Grain and flame - Hanmade Designs - Happy Go Souvlaki - Hawkswell Wood - Huff No More - I am OH Oliver - In-Grained - Incey Wincey Studio - Inky Kat Studio - It’s Only Mud - Ivy and Leaf Boutique - JKH Ceramics - Josie Makes Stuff - Kate Rowland - Kattern Design - Katy Breminer Artist - Kawaii By Emma - Kemptown Provisions - Keziah Furini Illustrations - Kim Edith - Kim Fisher Ceramics - Knot by Jade - KP Studio - KTCD UPCYCLED - Liz Padgham-Major - Louisa Kazig - Loulabelle Art - Lucky Leaf Teas - Madeleine Smith Paper Sculpture - MAKU UK - Marzilcious - Mash Design - Maxine + Boss - ModeAbode - Mom’s Mosaics - Ollie Inks Things - Patchwork Park - Patrick Edgeley - Pet Beach Boutique - Pinkijones - Poppy Sullivan - Prescription Resin - Puremess - Reclamation Living - Renush - RISEN REMNANTS - Ron Leather Goods - Rowena Park Jewellery - rusper and pines limited - Ruth Waters - Saneymi - Savvy Ferments - SITALIAUK ltd - Small Yellow Bird - SOB Ceramics - Sofia Johnston Illustration - Square Stories - Stone Age Jewellers - Studio Bibi - Sussex Scoops LTD - Taylor Made Baubles - The Chilli Trail - The Hedgerow Alchemist - The Sausage Roll Kitchen - Tiki by Cécile Gilbert - Time Squares - Toes on the Hill - Truffle Witch - Twigs&More - Vaseema Hamilton Pottery - Violets Print House - Walnart - Welb Organics - WendyWoo Handmade - What's Up Birdie? - Whitechapels of Kent - Wild.Fringe - Tasha Samasuwo Art - Michelle Scicluna
Curing Rebels
GN Jewellery
Hawkswell Wood
It’s Only Mud
Kate Rowland
Kattern Design
Kemptown Provisions
Liz Padgham-Major
Madeleine Smith Paper Sculpture
MAKU UK
Mash Design
Maxine + Boss
Patchwork Park
Patrick Edgeley
Poppy Sullivan
Renush
rusper and pines
Square Stories
Tasha Samasuwo Art
Violets Print House
WHAT’S ON
The sussex distillers festival
The Sussex Distillers are a dram of passionate distillers, brewers and winemakers, uniting to showcase the very best our county has to offer. From small-batch gins and vodkas to award winning rums, beers, wines, and hand-crafted cocktails, you’ll find it all with us at the Spring Makers Fair. Bringing makers and drinkers together to share a love for the craft.
live music
Charlotte & Chris- an acoustic duo from the South Coast. They will be joining us on Saturday 9thMay with three sets: 1pm - 1:40pm, 2pm - 2:40pm and 3pm - 3:40pm
The Move-Ons - a four-piece indie-rock band take over the Engineerium on Sunday 10th May with three sets: 1pm - 1:40pm, 2pm - 2:40pm and 3pm - 3:40pm
Sussex Steel Band- Sussex Steel is a vibrant steelpan charity (CIO) dedicated to bringing the joy of steel music to Sussex and beyond performing Sunday 10th May.
Maria Adriana - A live performance Embodied experiences of colour, music, and human transformation
guided STEAM UP museum tours
The British Engineerium will be offering guided tours of the Museum IN STEAM throughout the weekend.
Get up close to the impressive engines, chat with knowledgeable enthusiasts, and experience the sights and sounds of a bygone era. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of steam power!
Tickets are required - we recommend booking ahead of your visit as tickets have always sold out in the past.
Watercolour workshop with shelley morrow
Join watercolour artist, Shelley Morrow for drop in watercolour workshops on Saturday 9th May between 10:30am - 12:30pm. The workshops are suitable for all abilities - even complete beginners! No booking required, come of the whole session and let your creative juices flow or just part of the session. Pay what you can.
Cindy Lou’s line dancing
Join Cindy for some Country Line dancing fun on Sat 9th May from 3:30pm
delicious food options
Get your tastebuds going with an irresistible spread of street food and sweet treats:
Bon Vivant – Indulge in oozy raclette sandwiches and delicious crepes, melted to perfection right before your eyes.
Happy Go Souvlaki - Fresh, vibrant Greek street food packed with juicy grilled meats, warm pita, and zesty sauces.
Seashore Bakes - Dive into decadent brownies, rich sweet treats, and irresistible savoury bakes (Saturday)
Whisk Art - Divine cakes and desserts (Sunday)
Sausage Roll Kitchen - Homemade sausage rolls done right -flaky, golden pastry with hearty, flavourful fillings.
Sitalia Deli - A taste of Sicily with authentic street food bursting with Mediterranean flavour.
Cortado Coffee - Barista Coffee & speciality hot drinks
Slutcakes - Naughty but nice cakes that are as indulgent as they are unforgettable.
Gloria Ice Cream - Artisan ice creams for a nice Sunday treat
Riddle & Finns - Champagne & Oysters
interactive giant drawing machine
International artist, Nick Sayers offers fun for all ages mixing science & art using his giant Pantograph miniaturising machine and the bicycle spirograph machine. It’s fun, educational & a unique experience for all to enjoy and will be available all weekend.
Automata workshops
Create a mini seagull kinetic sculpture (automaton) with a manic flying motion.
You will create a wire mechanism to drive your miniature seagull, and decorate the base with shells, beads and glass.
There will be a choice of a ready made felt seagulls as shown, or a mini wooden one (in the style of Ron Fuller’s creations) that you can paint and decorate for yourself. There will also be a range of driftwood bases to choose from.
The workshop is suitable for everyone, no previous experience of automata or tools required. There will be ready made mechanisms to add to your base so you can concentrate on decorating the base, if you wish.
The workshop is flexibly an hour long depending on your prior experience and use of the ready made components. Experimenting is the name of the game and no matter what, you will have a working machine to take home with you. Cost of workshop is £25. From 12:30-3:30pm on Sat 9th May.
14 bars
Devil’s Dyke Distillery
DedBest Distillery
Madam Jennifer
Vermouth Actually
Caton Rum Punch
Brighton Gin
Henners Winery
Goldstone Rum
The Custom Spirit Co
Pick Your Poison
Sprit of the Downs
bubble shows & face painting
The very talented Face & Body Painter, Polly Chromatik, will be joining us on Sunday 10th May to perform some fun balloon shows & face painting.
where to find the FAIR + TRAVEL INFO
The Engineerium is situated to the North East side of Hove Park, next to Waitrose Hove/Corals Greyhound Stadium just off Nevill Road (once in the vicinity you’ll easily spot its towering chimney!)
PARKING:
There is NO parking on site, however there are plenty of parking options nearby (see map for reference)
You can park around Hove Park (Goldstone Crescent) for 3 hours on Saturday and all day Sunday (as no restrictions on Sunday). There is a pathway in the park that leads to the venue too.
There is free on-street parking on the East/North side (from Nevill Road/Woodland Drive) but please be considerate to residents.
There are no parking restrictions on the weekend around The Droveway (right side of Goldstone Crescent)
Please refrain from parking in Waitrose/Corals.
We strongly urge anyone local that is able to arrive by foot or bus to do so!
Entry to the Engineerium on foot is via The Droveway - via the junction of Nevill Rd/Woodland Drive OR directly from Hove Park - the path on the east side of path between rock climbing wall and mini train (lookout for our signs).
Brighton & Hove buses have a great journey planner - Plan a Journey
The closest route is 5B, but any 5, 21, 47 services are within a short walking distance.
Beryl Bikes have points in Waitrose & Hove Park.
Accessibility & general information
Access to the mezzanine level is restricted. Unfortunately, due to the building's design, step-free access is not available to this level. The mezzanine can be reached via the staircase inside. If you need assistance, please speak to event crew.
Disabled toilets/baby change are located on ground floor.
Last entry each day is 4:45pm
Sorry dogs are not permitted.
For information regarding the museum, please refer to the booking link or contact The British Engineerium directly.
Please contact us if you have any further questions.