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Swindon & Wiltshire Pride returns to GWR Park on August 9th 2025 and we are looking to build on the success of last year! In 2024 we had 10,000 visitors through the day. The Pride March will culminate at GWR Park for Pride 2025 - live music, a licensed bar, a chill out zone and other activities alongside the Marketplace stalls.
Whether you're a local business, an advocacy organisation, or public service, the Pride Marketplace is the perfect platform to engage with the community and we’d love to see you there!
We are looking for a diverse and engaging range of stalls for our LGBTQIA+ and family friendly event, including:
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Cold Food and Snack vendors.
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Retail, crafts and activities - especially showcasing local traders.
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National and local businesses, charities and other organisations.
Please note that we are NOT accepting general applications for Hot Food and Speciality Drink vendors this year and will contact selected vendors directly.
Please review the FAQ below and then submit your application here:
For applications received prior to 28 March we aim to inform shortlisted applicants by 28 April 2025; for applications received after 28 March we will let you know as soon as possible. Please note that submitting your application does not guarantee a pitch. There will be a subsequent final booking process for shortlisted applicants.
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When and where is Pride 2025 taking place?Swindon & Wiltshire Pride 2025 will take place on Saturday August 9th 2025 at GWR Park, Faringdon Road, Swindon. The event is expected to be open from 11am to 8pm , with 11am to 12pm being a quieter hour prior to the arrival of the Pride March.
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What’s new for Pride Marketplace 2025?Currently, plans for the Marketplace are similar to 2024. We’ll update this page or let active applicants know of any significant changes. At the time of writing the main differences are: This year we are NOT accepting general applications for hot food/speciality drink traders. We are open to applications from cold food and snack vendors though. We would like to expand the shopping and businesses (traders) zone and may accept multiple applicants with a similar offering. We have made some small adjustments to stall categories and pricing, see "How much will I need to pay for a stall at Pride 2025".
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How much will I need to pay for a stall at Pride 2025?The 2025 price list is given below and you’ll be asked to confirm the type of stall you are booking in your application. We are pleased to confirm we are maintaining a special discounted rate for small, local charities: Please note we are NOT seeking applications for Hot Food and Speciality Drinks traders this year.
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What happens after I submit my application, when will my booking be confirmed?Applications can be submitted until 28 April 2025. For applications submitted by 28 March 2025, we aim to notify those who are shortlisted by 28 April 2025. For applications submitted after 28 March, we’ll let you know as soon as possible. Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot. Shortlisted applicants will be required to provide additional information and finalise their booking by 6 June 2025 to hold a space, with payment due within 28 days of booking. We will maintain a reserve list of applicants in case spaces free up and may contact them outside of the above timeframes.
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Are you looking for food/drink traders?We received lots of interest in 2024 from food traders, and already have too many to choose from! We will be in touch directly with the vendors we are considering for 2025. Therefore, at this time we are not encouraging general applications for food traders. The selected food and drink traders are encouraged to offer soft drinks, speciality drinks, tea and coffee. We are not accepting applications for any alcoholic drinks offerings as we have a dedicated bar service planned for.
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Can I offer alcoholic or soft drinks?Food traders are encouraged to offer soft drinks – but no alcoholic beverages, as we have a dedicated bar service with profits supporting Pride. We also therefore not accepting applications from bar vendors. Please note that alcohol cannot be given away as prizes in raffles or other activities either.
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Do I need a street trading or collection license?All stallholders who are selling goods or collecting donations must have a valid trading/collection license from Swindon Borough Council for the event. We suggest you do not apply for a license until we have confirmed your booking. A trading license for 1 day is £37 (at time of writing), and you can apply online with Swindon Borough Council Charities can apply for a free Street Collection License from the Council. Food vendors must also be registered with Swindon Borough Council. License application is the responsibility of the stallholder. Please contact the Council’s licensing team for any queries.
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My stall offers X, are you interested?We are looking for a diverse and engaging range of stall providers to entertain our visitors, and our event is family friendly. We are particularly interested in local organisations and businesses, especially those providing support to the LGBTQIA+ community. If you meet those criteria or have a unique offering, then the answer is probably yes! We encourage you to submit your application so that we can consider it.
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Will power or water be available?No, we do not provide power or water facilities. Traders who require power may use a silent operation diesel-powered generator only.
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Can you provide a gazebo, chairs or other equipment?No, all stallholders are required to bring their own equipment.
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I have special requirements for my stall, how can I let you know?Please include this in the comments field as part of your application, we will be in touch if we need any more information.
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Can I leave my vehicle with my stall?Only vehicles that are required for the stall such as food vendors who trade directly from their vehicle may be left on site during the event. Providing weather conditions allow it, vehicles will be allowed on site during setup and setdown; no vehicle movement will be allowed during the event except in exceptional circumstances authorised by the event team. See “Where can I park?”, below.
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Where can I park?We will provide details of parking options at a later date but there is expected to be ample public parking in the vicinity, and limited accessible parking for those who need it (arranged in advance).
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When can I setup?Setup will take place on Friday 8th August from 1pm to 6pm and we will have security in place overnight to maintain the site. There will be limited slots available on the 9th for early morning setup 7:30am to 9:30am, by prior arrangement. More details will be shared during the booking process, and arrival slots will be allocated based on availability.
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When can I cleardown?Cleardown will begin once the event closes at 8pm on Saturday, vehicles will only be allowed once the site has been closed to the public or is sufficiently clear. We will have security overnight until Sunday, there will also be the option to cleardown on Sunday from 8am-10am. More details will be shared during the booking process, and slots will be allocated based on availability.
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What if I need to leave the event early?We ask that marketplace stalls stay for the entire event (the event runs from 11am to 8pm). If you need to leave early please note that no vehicles will be allowed while the event is open, and you are not permitted to leave your stall unattended - so you will be required to walk your equipment off. We are looking at options to streamline the departure process.
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What help will be available on the day?We pride ourselves on making Swindon & Wiltshire Pride accessible to all - we will have a team of volunteers available on Friday to assist with setup, and to assist with takedown after the event. If you have other accessibility needs please note these on your application.
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I have a question not answered here, how can I contact you?If possible, please submit your application and include your questions in the comments section. If you need to discuss something with us before submitting your application, please email marketplace@swindonwiltshirepride.org.uk. Please note that we cannot confirm bookings until we have completed the shortlisting process, targeted for 28 April 2025.
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Frequently Asked Questions.
Further information will continue to be shared via this page and email as we get closer to the day.
Please note that this information is believed correct at the time of writing, and we reserve the right to update this page at any point. We will inform active applicants of significant updates to this information.
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