
Our History

Our History

We Have Been Doing It A Long Time

Our History

Moving With The Times

Our History

Proud Of Our Heritage
- Corporate Events
- Fetes
- Carnivals
- Festival Ride Hire
The name M&L Pleasure Fairs is synonymous with high-quality funfairs. As one of the most long-standing names in the showmen’s industry going back generations, M&L Pleasure Fairs has been running funfairs for long before most other showmen.
Famous for fabulous, brightly painted lorries and leading professionalism, M&L Pleasure Fairs manages to stay on track, even in the most extreme of weather conditions, working tirelessly to put an event together and to ensure every site visited is left in at least as good a condition, if not better, than which it was found.
Constantly re-investing in new rides and equipment, M&L Pleasure Fairs has a reputation for putting customer and visitor safety first. All events are comprehensively insured with ten million pounds public liability insurance. All rides are fully inspected by ADIPS and operated by experienced, trained staff. Registered and qualified first aiders are always on-site.
Having been brought up with a strong sense of standards and ethics, Mark Benson began M&L Pleasure Fairs with his wife Lillian, operating to the same exacting high standards and continuing the family heritage through M&L Pleasure Fairs.
If you fancy reading more about us, go and get the September edition of the Old Glory magazine where we feature

T. Bensons Scammell Tractor
NMP (Rowland Scott Collection) Philip Bradley Photograph.
T. Bensons Scammell Tractor. Reg. OPB 329.
Leatherhead Fair, Surrey.
23 September 1956.

Tommy Benson’s Ark at Hersham 1957
Setting it up and getting ready for customers to ride.

New Millennium
This is a newspaper clipping from the 2000 millennium when Bensons was one of the very few privileged Showmen to be asked and given permission by the Queen to open some of our rides in The Mall for the millennium celebrations. Only the most prestige, long-standing Showmen with outstanding rides could attend and we are so honoured to have been part of this historical event.

Benson’s Lorry
An old Benson’s Lorry in all its glory!

Benson’s cyclone twist
The cyclone twist before we upgraded!

Brockwell Park
We have opened in Brockwell Park for generations – this is us in 1964!

Benson’s coconut saloon in 1935 at Mitcham built up on the roadside.

Benson’s Ark
Benson’s Ark proving to be very popular all those years ago! Bensons are very proud of their history and known as one of the longest standing showmen in the business.

Benson’s funfair in the floods at Godalming in 1968
Still going strong to this day, with lots of new and improved attractions and exciting rides to bring joy to the local communities in which we work.

Mark’s dad and his brother Billy back in 1959 at their home in Dorking where Tommy still lives today

Mark’s Grandad Tommy Benson & George
This photo was taken in the 1960s. George worked alongside Tommy for many years and was seen as a member of the family. We’re proud to be still flying the Benson flag to this day!

#DonEadesCollection
With the funfair about to open on the heath, we decided to look in our archives for some fairs from the town’s past. #DonEadesCollection
This image from the 1963 Taro Fair shows Tommy Benson on the left. The Benson family has a long association with Petersfield’s Taro Fair. The ride he is standing on, called a skid ride, was his father’s, and he was actually working in this photograph. The Benson family still run funfairs, as they have done for generations.
We are grateful to Marisa Wall, who identified her Uncle Tommy in this photo when it was first published in The Petersfield Post. Please let us know if you have any further information you can share on this image!

4 Generations of true showmen
Here is a fantastic article, of History Marks Dad Thomas Great Grandfather, Thomas & Great Great Grandfather Thomas Benson…
True showmen go back 4 Generations the Best in the business.
Three members of the Benson family with others at Petworth Fair, 1961.
M&L pleasure fairs family history
Some great photos of the history of the M&L Pleasure Fairs family.
