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Live Music

Boardmasters’ plans to increase capacity approved by local council

Featured Image: Ottr Dan on Unsplash

Boardmasters music festival in Newquay, Cornwall will have a total capacity of 58,000 for this year, after local councillors approved an application to sell another 5,000 tickets. 

According to a report from ITV News, just over 48,000 tickets were sold for the 2023 edition, supported by 5,000 staff, equating to a total capacity of 53,000.

The music festival takes place overlooking Watergate Bay, while its surfing events are hosted at Newquay’s famous Fistral Beach.

There were initial concerns raised over the potential effect on emergency evacuation and traffic management.

Matthew Phipps, the lawyer representing Boardmasters for the online meeting with Cornwall Council’s licensing sub-committee, said: “We are constantly looking to learn and improve. But I am bound to make the point that congestion as an example, delays on the road network, is not a public nuisance.”

Newquay BID, which represents businesses in the seaside town, welcomed the increased capacity as it could potentially bring up to £40m (€47m/$50m) of additional revenue.

This year’s line-up includes headline performances from Chase & Status, Sam Fender and Stormzy, as well as Courteeners, Becky Hill, Declan McKenna, Kate Nash and more.