Huge Bonfire Spectacular a first for East Yorkshire

A brand new bonfire event is shaping up to be the biggest night of its kind in the county.

Crowds will be entertained by fire breathers and stilt walkers and there will also be face painting, music, food and other stalls and a licensed bar. The night will also include a firework display and a traditional bonfire blaze.

Events and wedding venue, the Whitehall Estate, at Winestead, Holderness, is organising its first Bonfire Spectacular, on Saturday, November 2, from 5pm to 8pm. Backdrop to the entertainment will be the splendid grade two-listed house, Whitehall, which is over 200 years old and set in around 100 acres of parkland.

Aaron Pickering, of Whitehall Estate, took over the running of the venue with his partner after visiting a car boot sale there and “falling in love” with the place. Having developed a wedding and events business there, a tearoom and holiday lodges, they decided to introduce a Bonfire Night event that they hope will become an annual fixture.

Aaron said: “Because of the sheer size of Whitehall, there is such scope for much bigger events. We started off with a couple of kids’ events – we’ve just had a Disney Princesses one and there’s a Halloween one coming up – but now the Bonfire Spectacular one has gone crazy.

“This side of Hull, not many people do this anymore. There’s Craven Park and some smaller pub ones but nothing else really.

“Within 48 hours of announcing our event we’d sold 500 tickets. We’re looking to cap it at about 800 or 900 for this first one.

“This time of year you don’t want people’s cars getting stuck if it’s muddy – we do have three car parks and a huge drive to a big roundabout – but next year, with the car parking done, we are looking to be a lot bigger, more the size of what the Beverley Westwood bonfire was.”

Aaron is working with professional firework display people and a number of catering partners – “we’ve got Greek food, hot dogs and dirty fries and a hog roast” – to make it a night to remember for families. “I’ve been reaching out to local businesses to join us with their stalls and we’ve got crafts from people in Withernsea and Hedon for example, they’re doing things like candles, hand-made chocolates and cake – and we’re still looking for more stalls.

“We’ve got fire breathers and stilt walkers to entertain as people are walking around and we’re planning some of those classic rides for the kids.” Taking care of all eventualities., Aaron said one of the site’s lodges would be a designated first-aid area and another would be dedicated to fire safety.

Aaron added: “Later this year, on December 7, we’re having a big Christmas market, with reindeer, an ice rink and Santa’s grotto. We want lots of local businesses to be involved with that.”

For more information, email info@whitehallestate.uk