Festival at Greville Smyth Park would be Bristol’s loudest ever ‘open-site’ event

A two-day dance music festival at a park in a residential area this summer would be the loudest “open site” event ever allowed in Bristol, councillors heard.

But a decision on whether it can go ahead at Greville Smyth Park has been postponed after a licensing hearing descended into confusion over the fact it was being held in person at City Hall instead of remotely.

Organisers Slammin Events’ solicitor Matthew Phipps told city council sub-committee members it would be unfair and prejudicial if a decision over Sequences Festival was made at the meeting because vital expert witnesses were not present, having assumed it was virtual.

Several of the 68 residents who have lodged objections said the hearing on Wednesday, May 26 should take place because they had taken time off work and arranged childcare.

Bristol City Council licensing officers said the hearing’s notice issued on May 7 stated it would be held at City Hall and that the authority could not hold them either remotely or as a Zoom/in-person hybrid without a change in the licensing committee’s rules.

But Phipps told councillors: “The first we understood that this matter would be heard in person was yesterday morning.”

Bristol City Council said they could not hold them either remotely or as a Zoom/in-person hybrid. Photo: Adam Postans

He said everyone was desperate to return to physical hearings but he did not accept the council’s interpretation of the regulations that virtual licensing meetings were not allowed, because other local authorities still held them.

“My client is here but some people could not be here today in person,” Phipps said. “A delay is not in our interests because the event is scheduled for the end of July and we want to crack on with it.

“But the applicant won’t have a fair hearing if the noise management plan author and the traffic management plan author are not here.

“The police will confirm the first they heard this was a physical meeting was yesterday.”

Phipps said he still had not received the meeting’s agenda papers with the many representations against the application despite asking for them daily for the last week.

“This will directly affect my client’s ability to have a fair crack of the whip,” he said.

The solicitor said the event would be just two days this year but was planned to be a three-day event in 2022 and 2023.

City council senior environmental health officer Dylan Davies said the noise levels being requested had never been permitted at an “open site” in Bristol before, although it had for concerts at Ashton Gate and Harbourside.

Announcing the sub-committee’s decision to adjourn until June 10, chairman councillor Paul Goggin said going ahead with the hearing was likely to be prejudicial against Slammin Events.

Tickets are already on sale for the 8,000-capacity festival, which will take place at the Southville park on Saturday and Sunday, July 24-25, if it gets a licence.

If it goes ahead at Greville Smyth Park, the festival will be the loudest “open site” event ever allowed in Bristol, councillors heard. Photo: The Blast

The line-up includes globally renowned DJs including Chase & Status, Gorgon City and Sonny Fodera.
Sequences, which was first held in Motion in 2016, will be held on the Saturday, while a new Back to Love event is earmarked for Sunday.

The two parties would form a new series called Greville Smyth Live, which “works with the city’s best music promoters to supply large-scale events within the park”.

It would be the first time the park has been used for a day festival.

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Main photo: Ellie Pipe

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