Bumper season bolsters Arundel Castle’s fortunes this year

This year the site recorded bumper visitor figures, attracting a total of 154,600 people in 2013, an increase of 8.5 per cent from last year’s figure of 143,148.

The highlight of the year, the Mediaeval Joust and Tournament Week in July, received 20 per cent more visitors than in 2012. Autumn also thrived with the Pirates in the Keep in September and Normans in the Keep event in October attracting almost double the numbers of 2012.

Castle manager Bryan McDonald said: “Our events have grown in popularity with professional performances from the Raven Tor Living History Group entertaining visitors of all ages throughout the year and the exciting joust tournament which is set to get even bigger in 2014.”

The castle is now closed for the winter and will re-open on April 1, 2014.