2026 NEWBURY & DISTRICT HONEY SHOW RULES

RULES FOR EXHIBITORS

Please read these carefully

• A separate entry form should be completed for each exhibitor detailing all of their entries.  Entry formsmust reach the Show Secretary no later than end of the day, Monday August 31st
  

• New for 2026: exhibit labels: How to receive your labels

  1. Once your entry form has been submitted, labels will either be sent to you via post or made available for collection from Becca on a specified date (TBC). You will have the opportunity to select your preferred method on completing the entry form.

     Label Placement Rules

     To ensure fair judging, labels must be affixed exactly as follows:

     • Jars & Bottles: 10–15 mm above the base.

     • Frames (Cases): On top of the case.

     • Cut Combs & Sections: On the side of the container.

     • Candles: At the base of the candle.

     • Wax Blocks: On the side of the wax block.

     • Cakes: On the display plate.

     Important: No other labels, names, or identifying marks should appear on any exhibit unless explicitly required by the class rules.

     Replacements & Show Days

     1. Replacement Labels: If you lose your labels and require replacements, a fee of £1 per label will apply.

     2. Show Days: Please note that no labels will be available on either of the two show days. All labels must be secured beforehand
        

  2. Entry fees are £1 per entry payable by Debit or credit card on staging of the exhibit. 
     

  1. Staging: Exhibits should be taken to the Newbury Showground prior to the show during the following hours: 4pm – 7pm on Friday 18th September.  A Contractors Pass and directions will be emailed/sent to all exhibitors which will permit entry to the showground on Friday 18th September.  The passes may be printed out or displayed on your mobile phone.  Judging begins at 9.30am on Saturday 20th September. For exhibitors who are members of other beekeeping associations, we are working to arrange regional drop-off and collection points with your respective local associations. More details on this will follow soon. Please note our transport policy: While our collection team will handle all exhibits with the utmost care, NDBKA accepts no liability for the condition of exhibits during transit. All items are transported entirely at the owner's risk.
     

  2. The Newbury & District Honey show will cover a single ticket to enter Newbury showground for all competitors who enter 4 or more classes.
     

  3. All honey and wax exhibited must be the produce of the exhibitor’s own bees and liquid honey should be from this year’s harvest.
     

  4. The judge’s awards will be final.  The committee reserves the right to withhold prize cards in case of insufficient merit or entries.  All ordinary care will be taken of exhibits but the committee cannot be responsible for any loss or damage sustained.
     

  5. Mead shall be exhibited in clear colourless or slightly green tinted round shouldered Bordeaux style wine bottles of 70/75cl capacity, bottles must be punted with no lettering or ornamentation. Bottles with shallow punts are acceptable. Only cork stoppers with white flanges to be used. There should be approximately 20mm from the bottom of the cork to the liquid. No alcohol to be added. The labels shall be affixed on bottles to allow between 10 and 15mm between the edge of the label and the bottom of the bottle. The label should identify dry or sweet and for the metheglin and melomel whether Dry or Sweet and which spice or fruit eg Raspberry Melomel Sweet. Sparkling Meads are not permitted in these classes.
     

  6. Exhibitors may enter a maximum of 3 exhibits in a class but will not be entitled to more than one award in any one class.
     

  7. Movements of exhibits.  No exhibit may be touched or removed from the show bench without the permission of the Show Secretary.  Exhibits may be removed after the presentation of prizes at approximately 4pm on Sunday 20th September.  Competitors are responsible for the collection of their own exhibits either personally or by a named third party. You must be accompanied by a show steward. If found to be a competitor touching exhibits during the competition the judge may exclude you from the competition.
     

  8. Each class requires a separate exhibit. You cannot enter the same exhibit for multiple classes.
     

  9. Any matter not covered by these rules will be subject to National Honey Show rules. Please bring your entries ready for staging with the competition labels attached and any additional requirements completed.