10/07/2023
🤓2023 information and FAQs🤓
Right, so you’ve waited all year and it’s finally here (almost)!
The magical weekend of The Beat-Herder Festival is coming round fast.
This is long but it covers pretty much everything you might need to know – PLEASE READ IT ALL - And PLEASE SHARE it so as many people as possible can see it. xx
We are busy beavering away and tinkering on to make the weekend even more special for you all. Before you, Herders, is the important few days of preparation, where you need to get it together and focus. But, for some, the giddiness and anticipation is turning you into a crazed beast of gibbering bewilderment.
So, here are some handy tips, some dos and don'ts, some answers to FAQs and general help from the BH HQ.
4-day ticket holders: The festival gates open at 09:00 to you on Thursday 13th July. Arena opens at 10:00. Music begins at 16:00.
3-day ticket holders: The festival gates open at 09:00 on Friday 14th July to you and the Arena is open from 10:00 – THERE IS NO ACCESS BEFORE THIS FOR 3-DAY TICKET HOLDERS
Wristband exchange is open from opening time to MIDNIGHT - this is LAST ENTRY TIME
Campsite to be clear by lunchtime on Monday.
TICKETS:
Final tickets are currently on sale on the website – HURRY!
When purchasing your ticket this year you entered the name(s) of each person attending and then ticked a box to confirm that the name(s) were correct.
The name on each ticket has to match the person with their ID to be granted access to the festival - IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. You will not get in if this is not correct. The name from the ticket is then transferred onto the wristband and this is also a further measure to stop the sale and purchasing of wristbands outside the festival and keep the Herders inside safer over the weekend.
They cannot be transferred OR sold outside to get a mate in = this keeps everyone safe inside.
VEHICLE PASSES:
Before you leave home ensure that your vehicle pass is stuck to the vehicle windscreen so we can see it and make sure you also have your tickets handy! Not in your bag in the boot but close to hand, so we can check you have them and we can let you in. Not doing these things causes massive delays for everyone behind you. If you have this as an e-ticket then you will exchange this whilst you’re in your vehicle.
If you’re coming to be with us in the “live-in vehicle area” and want to be camped next to your friend(s), please arrive in convoy as we can’t save places. Please make sure you have the correct vehicle pass for this too. No tents other than the awning or the 1 allowed tent, cars (unless pulling a caravan/trailer-tent) or unconverted vans are allowed in the live-in vehicle field.
TRAVEL:
Best postcode for the satnav is BB7 4LH. We are at the top of Sawley Brow, on the A59 between Gisburn and Clitheroe. The festival is clearly signposted in either direction of the main entrance. Please take great care if you are turning right into the site!!
There is a drop off and pick up area and you don’t need a vehicle pass for this. DO NOT STOP ON THE MAIN ROAD OUTSIDE.
The nearest train stations are Clitheroe and Skipton.
UNDER 18s:
Here is a link to view over the T&Cs for the tickets – www.beatherder.co.uk/terms .
If you have a youth/child ticket please look over the terms with regards to the conditions to comply with and make sure you fill in and bring the Responsible Adult Form with you (this was included with your tickets when they were sent to you). A copy of it can be found here:
There is NO ENTRY for anyone under 18 without someone over 25 at all.
FACILITIES:
There are cash machines, showers, lockers (with mobile charging facilities) at Beat-Herder – we also take card & contactless payments at the bars and Merch’ stalls too.
We have showers in the main campsite. We don’t have plug sockets for hairdryers or hair straighteners.
This year we have the addition of composting toilets for those of you who aren’t keen on the port-a-loos.
ENTRY:
Please be patient. With recent events around the world, expect a wait with the security search – they are here to help us all and keep us all safe for the weekend.
PROHIBITED ITEMS:
BBQs / anything that creates an ember (ie. storm stoves) *yes, you can bring camping stoves to cook on outside your tent, caravans/campers have gas bottles - they are fine please don’t DM about them, please
• Glass – no glass allowed at all this year as before (put wine/spirits into plastic bottles or metal flasks)
• Illegal substances
• Legal highs
• Nitrous Oxide AND/OR whippers
• Portable laser equipment and pens
• Unauthorised professional film or video equipment OR drones
• Audio recorders
• Megaphones
• Air horns
• Spray Paint cans
• Marker pens
• Fireworks
• Flares
• Chinese or sky lanterns
• Any item which may reasonably be considered for use as a weapon – inc. Bread Knives / sharp stuff you might have in the camper/caravan..
• Animals (other than registered guide or hearing dogs)
• Sound systems/speakers /decks/cdjs/mixers (small/bluetooth speakers are allowed but please respect your neighbours as the campsite is a MASSIVE bedroom)
• Unauthorised items for trading, including vodka jellies and any goods using unauthorised event logos
Paddling pools
THE BEAT HERDER PROGRAMME:
We have lovingly created the programme in about 100 pages of full colour glory. It has full set times from the stages, maps, posters, A-Z of all artists performing as well as some penned thoughts and ramblings from the BH HQ.
The programme will be available in all the bars and the shiny Merch’ Carriage within the festival.
They are £6. We hope you can grab one.
If you have pre-ordered a programme, you exchange your ticket for this at any of the above.
SET TIMES:
The website (on the artist’s pages via ‘line-up’) shows the stage and the date of the performance of each artist. As we have to deal with last minute cancellations and slight alterations to the billing the times are not fully confirmed until the week before the festival. Timings will be in the programme and also advertised by the day at every venue on chalkboards/posters.
MERCH:
We have some really amazing BEAT-HERDER hand printed goodies this year with T-Shirts, Hoodies, Badges and LOADS MORE!
All these are available from our lovely MERCH CARRIAGE in the main arena all weekend whist they last, don’t miss out. x
FANCY DRESS:
This year the fancy dress them on Saturday is the letter ‘C’ – Can’t wait to see your creations.
ALCOHOL:
For years Beat-Herder has been toughing it out for you in the battle of fun versus bureaucracy. We do out extreme best to shield you, our lovely Herders, from the many rules and regulations imposed on the festival from outside pressures. With a huge amount of hidden tugging and pushing we managed to come up with a compromise between a complete ban on alcohol brought in and the safety of the festival.
Alcohol can ONLY BE BROUGHT IN ON YOUR 1st ENTRY WHEN YOU GET YOUR WRISTBAND, once you have your wristband you cannot bring more into the festival.
You, each person, can bring in cans (up to 24, mixed if you like) OR 1 box of wine OR 1 bottle of decanted spirits (up to 1.5L). Absolutely NO GLASS.
You can drink your quota wherever you like on site, take it all into the arena if you want (there's no 4 or 2 can rule as before) so don’t just drink it in the campsite. This also applies to the live-in vehicle area, you can move freely with your quota of booze throughout the weekend as you have a separate gate to access the festival once you have your wristband.
Our bars sell booze too and you can even earn free booze by keeping the place tidy. By boozing at our bars you keep Beat-Herder going. Please support the bars x
EARN FREE BOOZE (adult weekend ticket holders only):
Keep the place clean for the whole weekend.
On your wristband there will be section at the end of each tail. You will be given free bin bags on entry (and all the info is printed on them).. In short: We’re asking you to fill the bags with your rubbish over the weekend and when you fill a bag, hand it in at FREE BOOZE SHED and you can swap the full bag for a drinks token (one of the wristband ends is snipped off for the exchange). Sheds open Sat & Sun 11:00 – 19:00. So you have all the tools and an incentive keep the place tidy. It’s been a disgusting mess every year- let’s change it and enjoy/respect the place where you will live and sleep for the weekend for the duration of the weekend.
TAKE YOUR TENT HOME:
Each year an estimated 250,000 tents are left at music festivals across the UK, a majority of which are sent to landfill or incinerated. Don’t be part of the problem. If you do want it to go to charity, take it home and donate it yourself, no excuses!
DRUGS:
Beat-Herder does not condone the use or possession of illegal substances, all individuals found in possessions of such substances will be evicted from the festival and handed over to the police. Please make yours and our lives as easy as possible by not breaking the law. Please also be aware the laughing gas is now an illegal substance and ALL legal highs are banned at the festival and will be confiscated. Project 6 Welfare have a lot of information on the drugs that are around festivals. You can talk to them in confidence.
Drugs have been taken for centuries at parties & gatherings and Beat Herder is no exception to this. We all know taking drugs is illegal and can be proper dangerous, we know it goes on so, simply, if you must take drugs please make sure you know what you are taking and don’t buy from people you don’t know. Advice from The Loop is “Start with as low a dose as possible and wait at least 1 hour before considering re-dosing. Take plenty of breaks from dancing; avoid mixing with alcohol or other drugs; and ensure you stay hydrated and drink water regularly (no more than 1 pint per hour, sipped).”
If you haven’t brought it with you don’t take it. Make sure you know what you are taking. Start low and keep slow. Take it easy. Follow the advice – go and see Project 6 (welfare) for more advice
We’ve seen the recent news on drug deaths at festivals – let’s all be safe, look after each other and let us look after you - welfare is here to help, not to take you to court. xx
FIRST AID & WELFARE:
These are open 24hours a day and it really is the place to go, no issue too small. If you’ve got a mate in a pickle and need a safe place to crash. They will look after you for as long as you need and make sure that you are on your way and feeling better in no time -they’re here to help you. Can be found in the same field with the stone circle in, near the BIG 2023 numbers. If you have any doubts, issue or need to talk go there.
Go and see them whenever you need to, they don’t care who you are or what you’ve taken it’s their job to keep you safe. It’s why they’re here.
CLOTHING:
Looks like it will be a weekend with the potential for all sorts of weather - obviously we are hoping for sun and no rain. Be prepared, you are about to live outside for 3 or 4 days and nights. Make sure you have some warm clothes, decent tent & warm bedding, some waterproofs, some good footwear, spare socks and a change of underwear for goodness sake!
SUN:
It’s also planning on being sunny and hot. Bring a refillable bottle for the tent, sun-cream, hat, get some shade & drink! Too long in the sun has all sorts of consequences. Look after yourself and others. We are 1 family this weekend, stay safe & remember: YOU ARE NOT HARDER THAN THE SUN!! xx
ID FOR ENTRY AND RE-ENTRY:
You will need your ID for entry (to match name on ticket) and also re-entry as your wristband will be scanned.
ID FOR THE BARS
We operate a challenge 25 policy on the bars and all those lucky enough to appear under the age of 25 will be asked to provide evidence of their age by a valid photographic ID (UK Driving License, PASS 18+ Card or any card bearing the PASS hologram or your Passport, even an expired one is ideal).
VALUABLES:
Please do not leave your prized electronic gadgets, cameras, phones, wallets in your tent. You’d be better off bringing a ‘festival phone’ and the battery will probably last all weekend too. Either leave them at home, or keep them with you at all times. This year we have lockers available in the ‘Campsite Village’ please use them (if you have pre-paid for a locker here you can redeem them here too).
AND FINALLY…………
Above all remember that we build the Shire of Beat Herder for you all to come and enjoy, to experience a weekend of delights and make amazing memories. It takes a small team of us the whole year to create and also a massive team of hundreds of friends to actually present and make happen. We simply ask you to respect the place and what we have created, have a great time and look out for & care for each other.
Peace and love with a HERD EM UP on top,
BH.###xx
