What was supposed to be a peaceful weekend in Surrey turned into a scene straight out of a wild western movie as nearly 100 horse-drawn carts stormed through towns and villages, leaving chaos in their wake.
Locals were left stunned—and in some cases, terrified—as the large group sped through red lights, clashed with traffic, and caused roads to shut down entirely.
Motorists Forced to Dodge Carts on the Roads
Drivers in the area were forced to slam on their brakes and swerve out of the way as the group of travellers made their way through Elmbridge.
Witnesses said the scene was nothing short of “mayhem,” with carts darting through busy junctions and even crashing into cars.
One mother shared how her children were left frightened after a horse collided with her vehicle, describing the behavior as “lawless.”
Village Pub Left in Tatters After Mob Arrival
A local pub became the unfortunate focal point of the disorder when a large group from the convoy stopped in around 3pm, leaving horses tied up in driveways and on the road.
According to the landlord, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the situation escalated quickly after some members of the group were served drinks.
What started as a few pints turned into pandemonium. Bottles were pulled from shelves, smashed on the floor, and spirits poured out as staff frantically tried to shut the bar.
“They came behind the bar, grabbed bottles, and just started wrecking the place,” the landlord said.
“It was really scary for our staff. We’re just a quiet village pub—we’re not equipped for that kind of behavior.”
Staff Left Shaken and Roads Blocked
Within an hour, the group had caused so much damage the pub had to close just to clean up the aftermath.
Bar staff were left shaken, and the sheer number of people overwhelmed the venue.
“I’ve seen travellers ride in on horse carts before,” the landlord added, “but never in those numbers. It was total chaos.”
As the pub tried to recover, horses were left tied up in people’s driveways or abandoned in the road while their owners used their phones or milled around.
The scene created a traffic nightmare, with vehicles unable to pass and frustrated locals trapped in their homes.
Urination in Streets, Public Swearing, and Road Closures
Residents across the area reported similar incidents—men urinating in alleyways, shouting profanities near children, and banging on car bonnets.
One woman shared on social media how her day was ruined when she became stuck in her village, cut off by road closures caused by the chaos.
Another resident posted about seeing up to 60 horse carts heading towards Hampton Court, warning others to avoid the area. “This isn’t your typical horse racing traffic,” he joked.
“They’re not stopping at red lights, and I saw two carts smash into each other.”
Police Step In With Dispersal Orders
As the disorder escalated, police placed a dispersal order over the entire Elmbridge area, granting officers the authority to break up groups of two or more.
Extra patrols were also deployed, with the dispersal order set to remain in place until mid-afternoon the following day.
Elmbridge, often dubbed “Britain’s Beverly Hills,” is usually home to celebrities and footballers like John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Ashley Cole—not scenes of this scale of unrest.
Pubs Caught Between Legal Fears and Safety
This isn’t the first time the pub had experienced trouble. According to the landlord, last year, they faced threats of a £250,000 discrimination lawsuit from members of the travelling community after refusing to serve a group of 50.
“It put us in a really tough position,” he said. “If we say no because of safety concerns, we risk legal action.
But if we say yes, we’re left dealing with total destruction and no protection.”
While some pubs in the area reportedly hosted the group without issue—like the Watermans Arms in Hersham—others weren’t so lucky.
The sheer number of carts and people meant even the most prepared venues struggled to keep order.