Member Article

Popular Newcastle fun fair ‘The Hoppings’ registers as a trademark

The Hoppings fun fair will return to Newcastle Town Moor on 19 June for its 133rd anniversary this year but this time the unprecedented step has been taken to register its name as a trademark.

As the popular event grows from strength to strength, the achievement of trademark registration completes the first stage of a well-structured, future plan devised by Newcastle City Council and the Freemen of the City of Newcastle to protect and expand the brand.

Not only the largest fair in Europe, The Hoppings abounds with history and culture as a well recognised event that attracts hundreds of thousands of fair-goers from across the North East, ready to enjoy rides, fortune tellers and competitions.

Beginning as a two-day Temperance Festival in 1882, the ‘Hoppings’ name is thought to have its roots in a Middle English word meaning “to dance”, an activity central to old fairs of this period.

Following a challenging year in 2012 due to very wet weather conditions, the Freemen invested over £100k into new drainage systems in 2013 focusing on returning the ground to its proper condition to protect its quality and in 2014, The Hoppings returned again with a bang. Its new trademark status will ensure sustainability and allow the brand to go forward as a secured and protected event name.

David Wilson, Vice Chairman of the Stewards Committee, said: “The Freemen and the City Council as lessors were aware that there was potential others not connected with the organising of the event could register the name as a formal trademark, which would be totally inappropriate and could compromise our use of the name; we felt that in building and sustaining the event in the years ahead, we had to step in to secure the long term future of the name.

“The Hoppings is part of the very lifeblood of the Town Moor and North East culture, therefore long may it continue. Our ongoing investment and partnership working with the tenants serves to reflect the refreshed spirit following the challenges we faced prior to the highly successful 2014 Hoppings, so this is a new beginning. Let us all go from strength to strength.”