We’re just a week away from the 2026 Game Fair, which will be held at Ragley Hall from 24-26 July. Amidst the cornucopia of stalls and events that will be held over the three days (full details here), please do come and visit the Countryside Alliance at stand E932, next to the Carter Jonas theatre (look for their blimp).

To whet your appetite, here’s a loving lampoon of some of the characters that make the Game Fair special.

What your Game Fair outfit says about you:

Tight tweed skirt or skinny white jeans, Fairfax & Favor boots with tassel (other brands are available) or short-toed boat shoes, Shirt with pheasant motif, Fedora with elaborate pheasant and guinea fowl feather pin that resembles a fly tyer’s shop display.

You’ve come in young ladies’ uniform, and you’ve brought the glamour. Admittedly it’s not Badminton, but the Game Fair is still one of the top weekends of the year to see and be seen. You and your friends bought your tickets months ago, which is also when you started putting aside a few notes each week, ready to be deployed at the Holland Cooper stand. But most importantly, the Game Fair is a photo op, your Insta followers had better brace themselves.

Kuiu cap, tattersall shirt (tucked in), chino shorts, Brandecosse Cervo Rosso or Dedito Moorland boots, Schoffel gilet (even in a heatwave), Acme whistle, gundog(s) on slip leads walking impeccably to heel.

You are the gamekeeper on tour, this is your Glastonbury, and by jingo your calves and chest are sweaty. Everyone you know is here and you’ll be having as much fun as you possibly can, crashing as many parties as you can, and between the pints you’ll be trying out the latest technical smocks, thermal/night vision optics and Polaris mules. Secretly you’re quite looking forward to being back on your rounds being the unsung hero of the countryside, as your calves can’t take much more of this hotbox torture.

Straw hat, blue check shirt, chinos in any Farrow & Ball colour that will easily hide stray droplets of soup, rosé or ale, well-dubbined boat shoes or brown suede brogues, linen jacket and optional hunt tie.

You are the quintessential and impeccably turned out, all round sportsman. You’ll doubtlessly bump into countless old friends as you swan from stand to ring and enclosure. You may well rest your weary legs whilst talking rural politics on the Countryside Alliance sofas before heading to the hound ring, fishing village and then to the art stands where your goddaughter is exhibiting - how many bronze sculptures is too many bronze sculptures?

Check shirt (untucked)/polo, two-tone rugby shorts, steel toe boots, mullet, pit viper sunglasses.

You’re a young farmer. Let’s be honest, your hands won’t grasp a shopping bag handle all weekend if you can help it. They are reserved for pints. But that’s fine, you’ve earned it, because harvest is already in and you’ve fed the nation for another year. The only thing that might, might, distract you from the Gunmakers’ Arms is the forestry machinery. You brought a tent, but you haven’t put it up yet - no issue as you weren’t planning on sleeping in it anyway.

Flowing floral dress, leopard print Adidas Spezials, faded baseball cap, effortless chic.

Envy of the flustered, you are the mum extraordinaire and you are here to take care of your husband and children who want to look at guns and tractors and probably can’t look after themselves. Although you had to forgo your usual reformer pilates class to be here, not all is lost as you’ve done your research and there’s a stand that you will visit that happens to sell those boots that you “need”.

Real tree camo cap, real tree camo top, real tree camo trousers, Nike/Reebok trainers, empty gun slip.

You love shooting, love kit, love bargains, you’re fantastic Mr Fox catcher. You didn’t pay for your ticket, you don’t need to, in all fairness you shouldn’t need to as you’re responsible for keeping the predator population on your syndicate’s shoot under control. This year you’re on the lookout for a Section 1 airgun, thermal scope and drawers for your new Mitsubishi L200 that you got an excellent deal on. Your wife and three terriers are also here, and all four of them want to leave gunmakers’ row, where you’ve spent the last 3 ½ hours and go back to the food section for the sloe gin samples and to hoover up any dropped partridge nuggets.

Wide brim technical sunhat, wraparound sunglasses, short sleeve check shirt, technical zip-off trousers, Berghaus hiking boots or Teva sandals, rucksack containing packed lunch, 2 water bottles, suncream, umbrella and perhaps even a folding chair.

You are a specialist and seasoned show goer. Come rain or shine, nothing catches you out. You weren’t planning on spending big, unless the Beekeepers Association honey salesmen have brought their A-game. You’re mainly here to watch the talks in the Game Fair theatre, the falconry and the cooking demonstrations. Your approach to visiting every corner of the showground will be methodical and comprehensive; few will squeeze as much out of the Game Fair as you.

Neatly ironed plain collared shirt, Nehru, chinos, R.M. Williams boots, Holland & Holland cap (esp. if balding).

You are Mr Nehru. You’re not quite up to speed on the politics of 1940s India, but you’re a great fan of the eponymous fashion statement of its first Prime Minister. You are living proof of ZZ Top’s theory that girls love a ‘sharp dressed man’. You drove to the Game Fair in the VW Golf you use as your chartered surveyor runaround as your father’s Range Rover was unavailable. You love the Game Fair, especially ogling the English best guns, testing out 4x4 interiors and trying to convince your girlfriend that you really do need that Perazzi. In all likelihood, you’ll be spending most of your money buying presents for your girlfriend, but, oh! Hang on! Is that a stand selling Nehrus?!

Navy and red Musto windbreaker (weather permitting), polo shirt, jodhpurs, half chaps, riding boots, ponytail/baseball cap combo.

You were up before dawn, you’re a mover and a shaker, you’re the doyenne of Gymkhana. You’re here for two reasons: to win the inter-hunt relay for a fourth year on the trot and to help your daughter to victory in the Shetland Pony Grand National. You can be found anywhere between the hound ring and the horsebox area, but you won’t have time to relax into a drink and a chinwag, not whilst there are rosettes and trophies to be won.