GuilFest is saved by people power as AEG Europe withdraws proposal

festival organiser speaks exclusively to eFestivals

By Scott Williams | Published: Fri 10th Oct 2008

GuilFest 2008

Friday 4th to Sunday 6th July 2008
Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey., England MAP
£90 for w/e, £100 with camping; days £40

The independent family friendly GuilFest now looks set to return in 2009 after the consortium including AEG Europe and led by former Virgin Radio programming boss, John Revell, announced they have withdrawn their proposal to stage a new music festival in Guildford following an up swell of people power and public opposition to the plan.

The Stoke Park site which homes the event could only really accommodate one festival and when a proposal to try and set up a rival festival was made by AEG Europe - a sister company to AEG Live UK, it looked like GuilFest would have to move locations or stop happening.

Guilfest organiser Tony Scott, speaking exclusively to eFestivals, confirmed the news, "They've pulled out! There was such an overwhelming support for our festival, the facebook protest site was going up by two or three hundred people a day. Yesterday there was over 1,700 people who had joined the online petition, it had only being a few days, and it was really rolling."

"Not only that, there were people writing in letters to the council, and talking about it in Guildford, and the overwhelming support means that AEG have pulled out."

"It's brilliant, I'm over the moon about it. Yesterday, I was looking at another site to put GuilFest on. They had said no it wouldn't really work, I was feeling a bit low, I came back to the site about midday-ish and there was a message to call the Surrey Advertiser. I phoned them up, and they said they had a press release from AEG. Then they read it to me, and I couldn't believe it, after it's caused us so much turmoil."

David Campbell, CEO of AEG Europe, said in a press release sent to getsurrey.co.uk (here), "We are saddened to confirm that as a result of petitions being organised against our company, we have decided to withdraw from any further discussions with the council. We are not going to engage in a public slanging match. The most important thing is that concert-goers, artists and the local taxpayer get the very best outcome."

Mr Scott was aware of all the support for his festival, adding, "Just generally, I know loads of people said they were going to write letters to Guildford Borough Council. And there was lots of feeling and support wherever I went in Guildford. There was quite a nice and spirited wave of support in Guildford, and I think that filtered through to David Campbell."

"I'm 99% sure that GuilFest will go ahead, we haven't got a date firmed up yet, but I'm hoping to by Monday next week. It all looks like it's on the go, brilliant!"

Mr Scott, wanted to thank everyone who helped save GuilFest, adding, "A big thank you to everybody who supported GuilFest in this situation, it just shows that sometimes people power does work. Every little bit of support added to it and helped. If nobody had done anything then AEG would have been running a festival in Stoke Park next summer. Thank you to eFestivals also for your support."

The festival boss had recently struck a deal with the council that would see him pay £20,000 a year for the use of Stoke Park for five years, and presumed the festival was secure until AEG Europe came in with their proposal. Although AEG Live UK are responsible for organising festivals in the UK they were not involved in the proposal.

GuilFest has been developed over many years and also has a wealth of entertainment on offer including two main stages, the Surrey Advertiser stage, the Anderton's tent, an acoustic lounge, a comedy tent, a Unison stage, drama performances, and one of the best kids zones in the country and is now likely to be held again in July.

eFestivals is a sponsor of Guilfest as part of our commitment to put 10% of our turnover back into festivals.

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