February 2020

EVENTS
What ground protection do you use
for cars and footfall?
We use a mix of metal trackway for
heavy duty traffic and deliveries, plastic
trackway for cars and car parks, and
walkway mats for heavy footfall areas.
Ground protection is important for
both customer safety and enjoyment
but also to protect the beautiful site we
work on.
How do you publicise the event?
We have a comprehensive marketing
timeline and plan. Because we do not
have major headliners, we focus on
selling what makes Towersey so special
and unique in a flooded festival market.
We focus all marketing on being as
targeted as possible. Festivals are not
for everyone so being clear about who
it is that wants to hear about us is vital
when working with a limited budget.
We have national and regional
focusses but more and more we focus
locally as people tend not to travel for
festivals as much.
What challenges have you faced?
How long have you got? Competition
is the biggest challenge. There are so
many more events and some that are
not always as thought through as they
might be. We pride ourselves on being
the original and still the best for a true
(but easy) festival experience.
Access and ground protection is this
year’s big challenge and the ongoing
“WE PRIDE
OURSELVES
ON BEING
THE
ORIGINAL
AND STILL
THE BEST
FOR A TRUE
(BUT EASY)
FESTIVAL
EXPERIENCE”
drive to be carbon neutral is always on
our mind and in our planning.
How have you financed the event and
how profitable is it?
The event is self-sustaining, completely
independent and with very little
sponsorship and funding (although we
would love a bit more!). We focus on
making the budget work based on sales.
What are your plans for next year?
We already have plans to develop
certain areas of the programme but
because 2020 is a big change year for us
we want to see how things work. One
thing we will be aiming for is to offset
carbon with tree planting and other
initiatives that festivalgoers can join us
with.
What other outdoor hospitality
sectors do you operate in?
We own a fair amount of event
equipment and decoration - flags,
bamboos, furniture etc. and have plans
to start renting some of this out and
helping other events look great.
What advice could you give to
someone coming into the industry?
Find something different. Something no
one else is doing. Start small and grow
organically. Don’t rely on investment,
funding or grants. Be self-sustaining and
do the event for a reason that isn’t just
business!
ADDRESS BOOK
MARQUEES
Albion Woods Big Tops
www.albionwoods.co.uk
Oxford Marquees
www.oxfordmarquees.co.uk
STAGES
One Big Star www.onebigstar.com
HEAT & POWER
Flying Hire
www.flyinghireevents.co.uk
BARS
Bar Nation www.barnation.co.uk
GROUND PROTECTION
AutoTrak
www.portableroadways.com
GT Trax www.gttrax.co.uk
TOILETS
D&P Luxury Toilets
www.luxury-toilets.co.uk
TICKETING
Gigantic www.gigantic.com
WI-FI
EventWifi www.eventwifi.com
DETAILS
28-31 August 2020
Claydon Estate
Middle Claydon
Buckingham MK18 2EX
www.towerseyfestival.com
50 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM