Site changes for 27

[parsonjack]

19 hours ago, Crazyfool01 said:

does look possible looking at that ..... im going to reserve a space in one of those long drops on the left , think they may also need to rotate them so you have the best toilet view in the world 

 

It would improve the toilet situation for Pyramid though, making access to the Mandela side long-drops much easier than having to navigate around the hedge at top or bottom where it's always rammed.

[incident]

55 minutes ago, kalifire said:

Isn't this what they tried to do with Arcadia's moon on a crane thing? Left the base there then applied for planning permission for it. That didn't work.

Yep, that's exactly what happened.

 

Cost them loads of both money and time. You'd expect they'd learn from the experience and not take that risk again, especially with something that is a lot more visible and key to the festival.

[incident]

Anyway - as people have mentioned toilets.

 

One of the effects of fully annexing Row Mead into the Pyramid Field has been that more people have become aware of the Long Drops at the very top of Row Mead, next to Big Ground - and so the usage has shot up. Feel like they really need to put a large urinal block next to them to help manage the demand.

[giantkatestacks]

1 hour ago, parsonjack said:

 

It would improve the toilet situation for Pyramid though, making access to the Mandela side long-drops much easier than having to navigate around the hedge at top or bottom where it's always rammed.

Yes and remove a natural blocker to people movement generally plus they then might have less congestion where people are standing on the stage road area blocking vehicles and causing problems?

[gfa]

18 hours ago, dotdash79 said:

I would expect them to be at least talking to the planning department. 

If moving the pyramid is true then certainly.

 

Glastonbury aren't going to move it and then retrospectively apply was my point

[Ayrshire Chris]

1 hour ago, gfa said:

If moving the pyramid is true then certainly.

 

Glastonbury aren't going to move it and then retrospectively apply was my point

If it’s just changing the orientation and they can cite it would help safety, access to the pyramid field, better crowd control etc then there surely would be no objections. Changing  size, height that would increase its visibility year round then that might be more problematic. 

[gfa]

8 minutes ago, Ayrshire Chris said:

If it’s just changing the orientation and they can cite it would help safety, access to the pyramid field, better crowd control etc then there surely would be no objections. Changing  size, height that would increase its visibility year round then that might be more problematic. 

I doubt the council will be bothered with them rotating it a bit, but my is that if its something that requires permission then they are unlikely to just do it and try to get permission retrospectively.

[incident]

49 minutes ago, gfa said:

I doubt the council will be bothered with them rotating it a bit, but my is that if its something that requires permission then they are unlikely to just do it and try to get permission retrospectively.

Fully agree with that, and tbh - I doubt that they'd even bother "just" rotating it as that'd be a wasted opportunity. Whenever they do make changes I'd expect to see a noticeably larger new build that gives them a bit more space and flexibility.

 

There's been a few suggestions over recent years that the size of the current stage is limiting for various reasons - most notably the increasing scale of the bigger touring productions and the amount of space backstage to have all the different acts gear, etc ready to go. It'd be crazy not to address that given the chance.

[deadponyclub]

54 minutes ago, incident said:

Fully agree with that, and tbh - I doubt that they'd even bother "just" rotating it as that'd be a wasted opportunity. Whenever they do make changes I'd expect to see a noticeably larger new build that gives them a bit more space and flexibility.

 

There's been a few suggestions over recent years that the size of the current stage is limiting for various reasons - most notably the increasing scale of the bigger touring productions and the amount of space backstage to have all the different acts gear, etc ready to go. It'd be crazy not to address that given the chance.

I agree with this, if they are going to make changes they will do it all at once including making the stage bigger. GFEL have got plenty of time to get planning permission sorted and the updated stage built before we get to 2027. Let’s hope we see something appear on the council planning applications, would certainly give us something to get excited about during this fallow year!

[parsonjack]

14 hours ago, deadponyclub said:

I agree with this, if they are going to make changes they will do it all at once including making the stage bigger. GFEL have got plenty of time to get planning permission sorted and the updated stage built before we get to 2027. Let’s hope we see something appear on the council planning applications, would certainly give us something to get excited about during this fallow year!

 

If there is any plan to increase the size then it's more than likely the existing frame would need to be dismantled.  Without any planning notice being published it's absence would quickly be spotted from the A361 from points where the frame can be seen.

 

Exciting times.

[Skip997]

Has anyone else been on the Pyramid stage? It’s massive, we only see about a third of it when the backdrop is in place. 

[SPW]

13 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

Has anyone else been on the Pyramid stage? It’s massive, we only see about a third of it when the backdrop is in place. 

Not been on it but was behind stage when setting up and yeah the scale is much bigger than I thought tbh. 

 

I am far from qualified to know what stage space headliner acts need, or what logisitical space is needed behind that, but I'm a little wary of it being much bigger. I know backdrops can help but wouldn't it risk some acts getting lost on there?

[incident]

40 minutes ago, SPW said:

Not been on it but was behind stage when setting up and yeah the scale is much bigger than I thought tbh. 

 

I am far from qualified to know what stage space headliner acts need, or what logisitical space is needed behind that, but I'm a little wary of it being much bigger. I know backdrops can help but wouldn't it risk some acts getting lost on there?

So approximately speaking - the Pyramid Stage is 30 metres tall, and 38 metres wide/deep at the base. Which yes is fairly sizable. But the problem with that is the Pyramid shape - the higher up you go, less space is actually usable. I can't remember the source for this, but I've heard that productions on the Pyramid are limited to 16m width. I don't know whether that's the exact number, but it can't be far off - if correct it'd place the rigging slightly above halfway up the Pyramid which broadly matches with pictures.

 

By contrast, the Other Stage is 25m wide which is approximately the industry standard, and the key part is that all of that is usable.

[Skip997]

Anyway the important discussion is whether or not Unfairground is going and what will replace it.

 

 The Pyramid is the Pyramid and it ain’t going anywhere except maybe a slight realignment 

[Yeo-vile idiot]

4 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Has anyone else been on the Pyramid stage? It’s massive, we only see about a third of it when the backdrop is in place. 

 

yup this one’s from a good few years back but tend to jump for the standard ‘Glastonbury can you here me’ shout each year 😆 

[giantkatestacks]

3 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Anyway the important discussion is whether or not Unfairground is going and what will replace it.

 

 The Pyramid is the Pyramid and it ain’t going anywhere except maybe a slight realignment 

Its a tricky one where it is as whatever it is tends to become a bit of a corridor. 

[Supernintendo Chalmers]

4 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Anyway the important discussion is whether or not Unfairground is going and what will replace it.

 

Is that legit? As much as people may have gotten bored with that area, a more important factor for me would be the loss of some great characters who'll possibly no longer be involved/in attendance. I hope it's a reimagining rather than a total replacement

[Skip997]

23 minutes ago, Supernintendo Chalmers said:

 

Is that legit? As much as people may have gotten bored with that area, a more important factor for me would be the loss of some great characters who'll possibly no longer be involved/in attendance. I hope it's a reimagining rather than a total replacement

Seems it could happen from what I’ve heard, including the loss of some great characters 

[guypjfreak]

On 22/01/2026 at 10:58, incident said:

Anyway - as people have mentioned toilets.

 

One of the effects of fully annexing Row Mead into the Pyramid Field has been that more people have become aware of the Long Drops at the very top of Row Mead, next to Big Ground - and so the usage has shot up. Feel like they really need to put a large urinal block next to them to help manage the demand.

I reckon it will not be too long before that whole top part of row mead ....RIP....is food and beer stalls... imagine the money that they could make.

[westholtschic]

20 hours ago, Skip997 said:

Has anyone else been on the Pyramid stage? It’s massive, we only see about a third of it when the backdrop is in place. 

Yes in 2016, and yes it is.

[Skip997]

Potential changes in the Craft field for 2027. This is from a 100% genuine source 

[gfa]

On 23/01/2026 at 16:59, giantkatestacks said:

Its a tricky one where it is as whatever it is tends to become a bit of a corridor. 

You could say the same for any of the SEC areas given its a big loop really.

 

Unfairground is a corridor at present as its pretty shite at present and lacks a larger stage to draw people in etc.

[CaledonianGonzo]

43 minutes ago, gfa said:

You could say the same for any of the SEC areas given its a big loop really.

 

Does feel that they might have managed to fix Shangri-la last year 

 

(I'll caveat that by saying I was only there on the Thursday and Friday nights so no idea if Saturday was a bit of a log-jam - but not sure I heard too many of the usual complaints afterwards)

[gfa]

25 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Does feel that they might have managed to fix Shangri-la last year 

 

(I'll caveat that by saying I was only there on the Thursday and Friday nights so no idea if Saturday was a bit of a log-jam - but not sure I heard too many of the usual complaints afterwards)

It was a little better but still pretty busy at peak times. Programming was better i think

[philipsteak]

26 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

 

Does feel that they might have managed to fix Shangri-la last year 

 

(I'll caveat that by saying I was only there on the Thursday and Friday nights so no idea if Saturday was a bit of a log-jam - but not sure I heard too many of the usual complaints afterwards)

 

Saturday was also fine.