Festival Goers - Is this normal?

We're off to Townley Live festival in Burnley today ( Yes Burnley Lancashire, in the constant drizzle to see McFly, The Saturdays, NDubz, Diversity and Scouting for Girls) am I mad?

But this is not my question.

The organisers have posted on the website that you are not allowed to take any bags ( larger than a small owl?), any chairs or stools of any type, no drinks other than 500ml in a plastic bottle, no food, and there is no passouts or readmission. They are searching on entry to ensure the rules are applied.

Call me old but being forced to stand for 9 hours in the rain doesn't sound like a fun festival atmosphere. I have only been to WOMAD before, which is very laid back and everyone picnics where they feel like it, and just wanted to know if these rules are normal.

 

that is madness ....

the reason festivals do this is
a - the land owner does not allow chairs as they don't want the land to get damaged - even though standing all day is worse
b - the bars put up the cost of running the event and have to make money back so they order the 'no drinks'

i would not go to any event like this as i always make my own pack lunch and have to for katie as most events don't cater for gluten free people that well.

its disgusting and i would write to them after the event saying so ...

hope its worth the effort - sounds like a nazi camp to me

 

There not rules! They are a way of making sure you pay well over the odds for food, drink & merchandise Tis the way the commercial festival does things these days. I can guarantee that you will find a stool selling chairs inside the festival arena so's to exploit those that have difficulties standing for long periods of time.


Just make sure you dont buy in to it to much and make sure you have a good time

 

welcome back dazzle...

 

They did the same at one in Leeds last year - Party in the Park or something. I only went as we got some free tickets and the kids fancied it but no seats for 9 hours 6 months after emergency spinal surgery was not fun in the slightest.

At the Bingley music festival they don't allow you in with umberellas - classed as an offensive weapon!!! Even though it was absolutely tipping it down and did so for 6 hours!!!!!

Madness

 

I've see this before I'm afraid. The water is a normal one. The bags is also common. The food is a bit harsh. Sorry, you'll just have to have a day of getting ripped off with over-inflated prices for sub-standard food.

 

Tell them your diabetic. Or when you fancy a drink pretend to be delirious and dehydrated and seek help from St Johns ambulance who will refresh you.

Those rules suck. I wouldn't bother going. I mean.......NDubz!!! I'd rather eat a deep fat fried horses willy.

 

The irony is, the water bottles that get chucked around and cause injury are the small little ones, because they are easy to throw

 

I went to Latitude the other week, you couldn't enter the arena with an open drink (ie not sealed) which couldn't exceed 500ml or an excessive amount of food. They didn't mind chairs. Food prices inside were horrid, £9.50 for a cheese burger!!!! We were allowed in and out at any time so went back to the tent for food.

 

Wrong ! Just Wrong... Were you told of these rules before you bought the tickets!! If not I'd ask for a refund..

 

Thanks for the replies.

We've just got back and had a good time despite the Gestapo.

Birdy - you were right about Ndubz - although I'm not sure I'd go as far as a deep fried horses willy.

They appeared to be very cross about something, but I'm afraid until they learn to enunciate, I shan't be able to empathise!

 

Glad you had a good time

It rules like that that make me preffer camping in a field with freinds and someone playing an accustic guitar

 

i had to pay 50 quid to park the bus in 'day' parking at T in the park . they were checking vans to make sure people didn't have a mattress , bbq's etc..
i seen a few gus in hired transit's being made to throw they're quilt's and stuff in the skip . the guy took one look in my bus and said 'in you go' which i thought was strange because im prepared for a nuclear fallout

 

Come to Cambridge Folk Festival instead.All types of music very chilled atmosphere and although you are not supposed to, lots of chairs. You can camp at Coldhams Common about a mile away and use the shuttle bus and drink as much guinness, pimms or cider as you want. Take your own tankard though as it costs £5 for a festival one and there is a £2 deposit on plastic glasses to stop people binning them and ruining the environment. It is, however a brilliant festival, eclectic choice of music, beautiful setting, much alcoholic beverage and good food to be had and no grief.


Frank Turner at this years festival



Port Isaac Fishermens Friends

 

it's not *that* unusual, though its not the norm. Events run by festival republic have a particular reputation for this kind of palava, and I gather that at IOW this year, there was a ban, or talk of a ban on chairs. Also, I think that folks weren't supposed to take chairs into tented venues at glastonbury this year, but that was mostly ignored....