is there any festivals that allow personal drinks..?

[Flaminglippy]

If you look at what an average price people will have paid per pint drunk at festivals of a similar size to KC, KC is about as poor value as you can get.

What I would be interested to know is how much quantity per head KC sold against those festivals that allow BYOB, what the difference in margins is between those that go to the trouble of laying on draught beers rather than just cans (that is, how can some festivals charge less for a draught pint than KC does for a can)and what the overall impact of having underage drinkers binge drinking their own alcohol on the campsite between acts is on the festival in terms of both revenue and associated anti-social behaviour. But I guess those stats are a bit of a secret.

Edited December 22, 2010 by Flaminglippy

[Rich BT]

Not to change the topic too much from it's original question but on a similar note and out of curiosity I've been putting together a list of beer & cider prices at festivals, gleaned from data on the internet (either official festival websites or feedback on the forums). It may not be entirely accurate so if I've got anything wrong or if anyone has anything else to add I'd welcome feedback. The link to view and edit is here.

[Guest Flip]

I always spend more on beer at a festival that let's me take my own beer in the arena than I do at those that dont. Sneaking drink into the arena is hardly rocket science and Im just determined that I will drink my own regardless of what the festival says. And I'll buy even more if you charge me reasonable prices (BT, Alchemy, Eden, Summer Sundae from personal knowledge) than try to fleece me. Kendal Calling wanted £12 TWELVE POUNDS for 4 opened cans of Carlsberg this summer

[Paul ™]

Agree with everything Phil is saying here too.. looking at the prices @ Kendal its prices are comparable with some festivals with a much larger capacity.

Yet again proving small festivals that allow you to BYOB are amongst the best on the circuit

[llcoolphil]

To be fair I don't think the price of the beer at Kendal was too bad...I'd rather pay those prices again next year and have the same kind of queues (ie non-existant) rather than them charging slightly less and having the kind of waiting time you see at most other festivals

[Paul ™]

Serious question - which 'most other festivals' are you referring to?

[pehaw]

Are. Not is.

[Flaminglippy]

Serious question - which 'most other festivals' are you referring to? I can't ever recall queuing longer than a couple of minutes at BT, Eden, Alchemy or Summer Sundae. The queue for cocktails at Summer Sundae could take a few mins but these were proper cocktails with proper spirits, not syrup based concoctions (and at pub prices!)but never had a noticable queue for beer - all draught and the ale tent has a choice of about a dozen to go at! Queues at BT, Eden and Alchemy are non-existent, and again all for draught beers. In fact Eden's approach of only selling real ales and real ciders (in the plural for both) should be roundly applauded

Edited December 23, 2010 by Flaminglippy

[llcoolphil]

Fair question...I am talking about the likes of V, IOW, Reading etc so much bigger. I'm a late convert to the joys of smaller festivals (but plan to make up for lost time)

[Kowalski]

I think Rockness were doing cans (of cider?) at inflated prices this year.

[llcoolphil]

I think Rockness were doing cans (of cider?) at inflated prices this year.

Edited December 23, 2010 by llcoolphil

[rachbon]

I think Rockness were doing cans (of cider?) at inflated prices this year.

[Paul ™]

They have been there every year apart from this year and that was due to Strongbow putting the foot down. Hopefully will be back in 2011 though.

[Paul ™]

It was the black isle brewery who sold it's suffolk organic cider.

Though I got a crate of nice ciders as an apology :-)

[rachbon]

They have been there every year apart from this year and that was due to Strongbow putting the foot down. Hopefully will be back in 2011 though.

Edited December 23, 2010 by _rachelbon

[Medina]

In support of Magic42's post above, Festival organisers sometimes can't allow you to bring your own booze onto the Festival site even if the organisers wish to.

One Festival I organise has a condition on its licence preventing any alcohol being taken on or off the site, including the campsite. When we pointed out to the licensing authority that it was completely impractical to search every caravan, car, pick-up truck etc. they relented and accepted that festival-goers could bring their own booze onto the campsite... but we still have to try and stop people taking alcohol in and out of the main arena.

I should add also that many small festivals rely on bar takings to help finance the festival. As others have said though, if organisers want to maximise bar sales then they need to sell a decent range of beer at reasonable prices. Charging too much for a can of lager only encourages punters to smuggle their own through the gate.

[rivalschools.price]

Well as you'll know as you were at the festival, your Kendal Calling bit is inaccurate. Carlsberg was only available at £3 a can if you bought 4 and were prepared to have them all opened, otherwise they were £3.20 each and San Miguel and Stella were available, but at £3.50 per can, not as poured pints.

[James Simpson]

At Glastonbudget Music Festival in Leicestershire you can bring your own drink in to the campsite, but you can't take it into the arena. However the bars don't cost any more than your local pub.

Remember though, as all festivals no glass allowed.

[airds]

I realise that this thread is a bit old but here goes anyway

I've been putting together a list of beer & cider prices at festivals, gleaned from data on the internet

<snip>

The link to view and edit is here.

[Guest Flip]

I have said before that I pay around £2 a pint for real ale in a nice pub, if I go to to a scruffier pub I will pay £1.30-£1.80.

I realise that there is a north / south divide with beer prices, but some of the reports I read on here (ie £4 for a can) is a piss take

What you all need is a wetherspoon to open up in your area then all the other pubs drop their price to try and compete , and get wetherspoons to run festival bars

[airds]

Neither £2 or £1.30 are anywhere near a true representation of the price of a beer in a pub? A rough average is £2.80 I would say. Take Timothy Taylors pubs for example, the weaker Best is around £2.60 and the stronger ones are around the £2.90 mark. This is the same wherever you drink...even Bradford.. [i used to live there]

And as for Wetherspoons...I assume but have to check that your kiddin...

Back on topic, Bearded Theory!! Bring your booze into the arena, sample the fab bars selling lovely beer at... yes ... pub prices... please fall over responsibly!!

[Guest Flip]

I pay £2.05 for Taylor's landlord at my local, my dad thinks that is too expensive and drinks Tetley smooth at £1.80ish, this isnt uncommon, the beer prices in the local area dropped as soon as a Wetherspoons opened up, they had to as they were all empty

If I go to 'posher' places I pay around £2.50, if it gets towards £3 I tend to go somewhere else.

Im not stupid I expect to pay more at a festival, but people saying pub prices and then charging £3.50 - £4 seems wrong to me

Hopefully we will get to Bearded Theory this year, just trying to work out if the kids have exams etc

A couple of the reasons we are going to BT is because of the lack of arena and reasonable real ale prices....obviously the line-up helps as well but seriously when comparing prices of festival the no arena and cheap beer did factor in to it

BTW my local pub is here

[elfweirdigan]

Most of the festies us Weirdigans do have no arena, relaxed BYO policy and decently-priced bars. I'm thinking Beatherder, Knockengorroch, Solfest, Glastonbury... and this year for the first time to BT (on holiday! without cafe!). Mostly I can't understand why people go to the other kind.

[greenfairy43]

Mostly I can't understand why people go to the other kind.

[airds]

[Fanny's? The Junction on the Baildon Road? That kinda thing, both fantastic watering holes, but with an acceptable 2.50 - 3 quid average if I remember rightly].. Completely agree that £4 a can is a disgrace btw!!