Small business owner fears Sandringham Flower Show will be 'ruined'

The Royal Horticultural Society criticised for charging too much to take part in 2026.

I met Jess Levett at Burnham Market's annual craft fair in August, where she was selling her handmade homeware and gifts.  This time when we chat though, it's not a light conversation, she's voicing her concerns about the changes to Sandringham Flower Show.  Telling me she fears 'the heart will be ripped out of it'.

The one day show, run by a committee of volunteers, has been held annually for more than 140 years.  But now the RHS will run a five day event every three years, with its first planned for next July.

And that comes with extra costs that Jess says she simply can't afford.

Jess Levett and her Floral Lifestyle business at this year's show

"It's heartbreaking, as I've been going as a small business for 10 years," says Jess, "I normally have a six metre frontage and three metre depth, I pay 350 a day and to be honest that's the most I'd want to pay anyway."

"But with the RHS model it'll be almost 5 thousand pounds, I mean that's obscene.  I'm a small business holder and I'm used to taking risks - this is just a risk I am not willing to take."

In a statement the RHS says, "The RHS is excited to work with local committees and communities to expand the Sandringham Flower Show in 2026 to five days to include more horticultural spectacle, generate a greater national awareness and increase visitor numbers to support and celebrate local businesses and organisations." 

Adding the costs for exhibiting at a major national event 'are very reasonable' and that it wants to make sure the local committees and communities are 'at the heart' of the event.

Jess hopes by voicing her concerns, perhaps changes can be made, "I didn't do it as a marketing stunt, I did it to stand up for small businesses that won't be able to do this show anymore." 

"If the RHS wants us to be at the heart of it - then talk to us.  I'm not against the RHS, I think it's great that it's coming to Norfolk. My main argument is there're 52 weeks of the year, why did it have to be at the detriment of a legacy that's been running for 142 years?"

She ends by saying, "It's just going to rip the heart out of it to be honest with you. It's been such an amazing event to be part of, it's one of my favourite shows to do, and it'll be sad not to write it in my diary for next year."