Yes, it was crowded, but I don't think this necessarily think this means it's too big for Horniman Gardens, as the event itself was pretty good natured. For instance, last year, I went to this:

http://www.westdean.org.uk/Garden/News%2...iesta.aspx

The area of the gardens given over to The Chilli Festival was about the same size as Horniman Gardens - apart from the fact that half of it was a walled vegetable garden with greenhouses. I have no idea how many people attended, but it was pretty crowded. There were a large number of food and produce stalls, and chilli-plant stalls which took up more room than the Jerk stalls do. The queue for the toilets, never mind for the food stalls, was a sight to behold! But everyone still managed to enjoy themselves...
The only thing the place had which Horniman doesn't was ample parking. I think I've made it clear in previous posts that I think the parking and traffic management need sorting.

If in the future, the Jerk Cookout management feel that they can take the event up a level, and need a larger space for extra stalls/crowds etc, I would be very sad to see it leave, but would wish them the best of luck.

However, please can those most angry about it try to be calm and rational about how you make your complaints.If there is to be a parting of the ways, let's try to ensure it is an amicable one. It would be really sad if, when asked by other event organisers about their experience of using Horniman Gardens, the Jerk Cookout Management's response were to be "Oh God... don't do it! The locals are really stroppy and they chased us out after a few years...". Forest Hill has so much potential, and the last thing we need is to get ourselves a rep as a Nightmare NIMBYland.

And Roz, gingernuts, dbboy: There is a practical way to help avoid problems next time. I will volunteer to be a traffic marshal if you will!