19th July 2026
Founders Day
Synonymous with ‘The Taverners,’ is Founders Day set in the scenic Stanford Hall grounds, it has become one of the major UK events in the ‘old bike’ calendar. From humble beginnings almost fifty years ago with just a hundred or so visitors and half a dozen people selling surplus bike bits out of their car boot or laid out on the obligatory ‘paste table’ the event has grown in to a vast slick and professional operation.
Originally the event took place on the area to the right of the driveway with a small ‘arena’ to the back of the hall, nowadays there is a large arena to the front of the hall along with an autojumble nearing 300 pitches in number and taking up the whole area to the front of the hall. ‘Happy’ Hamrax is remembered as one of the first commercial paying companies to attend with money only changing hands if they’d had a good day – oh how things have changed!
Entry tickets to the event are available on the gate only, taking cash or card payments please.
This year's theme is 80 years of the VMCC and Flat Tankers
Steve Colley will be putting on trick trial riding displays in the arena.
There will be a beer tent on site and food will be available.
Day Admissions
Sunday 19th July
Day admission tickets will be available for purchase at the gate as usual with payment accepted in cash or by card.
Entry fees:
Adults, £12
Children under 16, Free
Gates open at 5.30am for Auto Jumble and general public admission commencing at 8.30am.
Camping tickets
New for 2026, Founders Day and Taverners are pleased to be offering camping on Friday and Saturday night on the scenic Stanford Hall estate.
Camping tickets are available for prebooking only:
- Saturday night camping: Adult* £25.00/Child Free (Gates will be open from 10am until 9pm for camping)
- Friday and Saturday Camping combo ticket: Adult* £30.00/Child Free
*Booking fee applies
You will receive a confirmation email to save to your phone or print out. Please present this at the entrance to the show along with a form of ID.
Hall tours
The Hall is also open for tours as part of the event between 11am - 4pm.
The Hall will be open for tours from 11am, with the last tour at 3:30pm. Admittance to the Hall can be purchased for £5 per person, available to pay via cash or card at the Hall door on the day. (Under 14s are free of charge.)
The Stanford tea rooms will also be open, serving a range of light refreshments and drinks. No pre-booking is required.
