The concept of a Fringe for Chelsea, similar to the Fringe in Edinburgh, seemed a natural one to Festival Director Tim Richardson. As a theatre critic and garden writer, with an actor/comedian past, Tim knew the Fringe model well. The Chelsea Fringe Festival was indeed an idea whose time had come and, in 2012, Tim’s bedtime brainwave became a reality, with more than 100 events taking place as part of the inaugural Chelsea Fringe.
We’re looking forward to a spectacular profusion of gardening activity. The idea is that anything goes, as long as it’s interesting and connected with gardening, gardens, plants or landscape. Come and see!
The Chelsea Fringe operates with the blessing of the Royal Horticultural Society, organisers of Chelsea Flower Show. But it is entirely independent!
The Fringe is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC).
Absolutely. The idea has always been for this to be an annual event and it’s not just limited to London either. We’ve had satellite events occurring outside London and artists and designers coming from all over the world to participate. We’ve had UK satellites in Aberdeen, Brighton, Cambridge, Bristol, Henley-on-Thames and Kent and further afield in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Italy and Japan. In 2022 there was a Fringe satellite in Seattle. We’re looking forward to new satellites joining us in 2023.
