The Crudwell Strawberry Fayre takes place on the village green, right outside the front door of Pettifers Hotel. In 2026 it’s on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th July and if you’ve never been, it’s exactly the sort of thing you don’t expect to be as good as it is.
What actually happens at the Fayre
The Fayre is a community event that has grown into something people travel for. The setup is centred on the village green: strawberries, cream and prosecco available throughout the weekend, with musical performances running alongside. The Friday evening before the main weekend traditionally opens with a concert at All Saints Church. The Dursley Male Voice Choir has featured in previous years which gives the whole thing a gentle, unhurried start before the green fills up on Saturday.
Alongside the food and music, you’ll find a plant stall, craft and local produce stands, and a raffle. It’s the kind of event that runs on village goodwill: local gardeners donate plants, community members run stalls, and the whole thing is organised by volunteers. The atmosphere reflects that. It’s sociable and relaxed, with a genuinely mixed crowd of locals and visitors.
It’s also a good event for children. The green is open, the pace is slow, and there’s usually plenty to look at — stalls, performances, people. Dogs tend to be welcome too, in keeping with Crudwell’s general character as a village.
How to make a weekend of it
The Fayre spans two days, but the area around Crudwell gives you good reasons to extend the stay. Here are a few things that work well alongside it.
Malmesbury is five minutes away and worth a couple of hours at any time of year. The hilltop market town has the ruins of the Abbey at its centre, a good range of independent shops and cafés along its streets, and a riverside walk that’s particularly pleasant in July. In the summer months the town is also running its In Bloom programme, so it tends to be at its most colourful.
The Cotswold Water Park, a short drive from Crudwell, covers a large area of lakes across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and is good for walking, paddleboarding, wild swimming and kayaking depending on where you go and what you book. South Cerney Outdoor is one of the main providers of water-based activities in the area if you want to plan something in advance.
Westonbirt Arboretum is around fifteen minutes away and runs events and guided walks through the summer. It’s worth checking the Forestry England website for what’s on during your dates. The arboretum is large enough that you can spend a good half-day there without rushing.
The Potting Shed in Crudwell itself is a well-regarded pub if you want dinner without getting in the car. For something different, Asha’s at Pettifers serves modern Indian and European food, the kind of menu that gives you something to look forward to after a day outdoors.
Staying at Pettifers
At Pettifers we have 18 bedrooms across the main hotel and courtyard, including family rooms and two ground floor courtyard rooms that have been specifically rebuilt as accessible. The hotel is dog-friendly and dogs are welcome throughout, with a charge per dog per night. The walled garden has seating and a terrace for eating outside, and there’s ample parking across three dedicated areas.
If you’d prefer your own space, Mayfield Cottage next door is a two-bedroom self-catering option with a private courtyard, off-road parking, and full kitchen. Guests staying at the cottage are welcome to use the bar and restaurant at Pettifers.
Given that the Fayre is on the doorstep, rooms for the Strawberry Fayre weekend tend to go quickly. It’s worth booking early.
Explore rooms and availability at Pettifers or call our team on 01666 815060. Book direct with us for the best available rates.
