Beachdown Festival cancelled (From The Argus)
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Beachdown Festival cancelled
12:59am Wednesday 26th August 2009 in News
CANCELLED: These crowds from last year's Beachdown Festival will not be returning this year
Beachdown Festival has been cancelled just days before it was due to open its gates.
The directors posted an emotional message on the Beachdown Festival website shortly after midnight announcing the cancellation, and pledging to do all they can to keep ticketholders informed.
Blaming poor ticket sales and a lack of support from their bank and some suppliers, they said they had even considered remortgaging their houses to keep the event afloat, but to no avail.
UPDATE: Click here to read our exclusive interview with Beachdown boss Joe Pidgeon.
The statement reads: “It is with immense personal regret that the Directors of Beachdown Festival have been advised that they must announce that due to slower than forecast ticket-sales and lack of support at a critical time from our bank and certain suppliers that despite being so so close to being able to deliver Beachdown Festival we are unable to do so.
“Very simply we were unable to meet the demands that the current economic climate put against us and at the eleventh hour despite having most of the infrastructure in place we have been forced to cancel the event.
“We wish to say at this time how desperately sorry we are to all those who have bought tickets or were participating in the event and to say that we all here are personally shattered expecially [sic] after eleven months of battling against the recession to try and put this event on and coming so close.
“We also wish to advise everyone that we explored every possible avenue to finance the event including re-mortgaging our houses to combat the unwillingness of banks to support us.
“We will do everything in our power to give the best information that we can via the web-site and via email but we ask that people understand that we will also be inundated with enquiries but we will endeavour to communicate to everyone as best we can.
“We ask all ticket-holders to get information from the outlet that you purchased the ticket from in the first instance and once again we will do everything we can to get as much information as we can to everyone as quickly as we can.”
Since the news broke, many festival-goers have said they intend on going to the site anyway, but Sussex Police this afternoon warned them not to.
A spokesman said: "We understand from the organisers' website that the Beachdown Festival scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled and we are in the process of establishing with them that this is the case. If so, we will work with them to ensure a safe closure at the location.
"We urge anyone with tickets for the event not to turn up. Security teams and police will remain at the site over the weekend and there will be no access or unofficial event."
This year’s festival, at which Grace Jones, The Zutons and Super Furry Animals were billed to play, has been dogged with problems since the start, with nearly 100 strict conditions imposed by Mid Sussex District Council when granting its licence.
In April, the organisers pulled out of hosting Brighton Festival Fringe at the Sundown Show Bar, which they also ran, due to their sponsor jumping ship and spiralling costs.
The news will come as a double whammy of festival gloom for people who had were given tickets as an alternative by organisers of the Bloom Festival in Chepstow, which was cancelled earlier this month.
This is not the first Sussex music festival to fall victim to the recession this year.
In January, organisers of the Lewes Folk Rock Festival, which is one of the town’s major cultural events, announced it would not go ahead this year for the first time since it began in 2002.
Are you affected by the cancellation?
Call The Argus newsdesk on 01273 544519, email news@theargus.co.uk or leave your comment below.
For more ideas of what to do this weekend, check out our comprehensive events listings database and if you have an event, you can add it there too.
Comments(146)
HugoAgogo
says...
1:42am Wed 26 Aug 09
jooj
says...
1:48am Wed 26 Aug 09
Trying to be too big, too fast, without a following on a weekend that already has a lot of bigger and better festivals as above.
The likelihood of people getting money back by the weekend is slim, which leaves a lot of people very miffed.
another 1
says...
3:23am Wed 26 Aug 09
S.T. Rewth
says...
5:39am Wed 26 Aug 09
Chop Stick
says...
6:52am Wed 26 Aug 09
stan bailey
says...
7:08am Wed 26 Aug 09
Acheron
says...
7:23am Wed 26 Aug 09
BandWagonDiva
says...
7:35am Wed 26 Aug 09
Jooj - why should they have cancelled the event last week?! They were trying to save an event that worked well last year and could have been better this year.
Jay316 - it doesn't matter that it is run on the same weekend as V Festival, not everyone wants to go to V!
Being a member of one of the bands who was booked to play one of the two main stages, I am absolutely gutted that it is cancelled. But I am certain that this has not been a 'money making organisation' as some have suggested. The organisers tried to do something good for this city and once again, due to the recession and Mid-Sussex's bureaucrats, we have lost yet another event.
stan bailey
says...
7:47am Wed 26 Aug 09
BandWagonDiva wrote:People don't do things for the good of the city. there either do it for their own ego's or to make money
The only well-balanced comment on here is from HugoAgogo.
Jooj - why should they have cancelled the event last week?! They were trying to save an event that worked well last year and could have been better this year.
Jay316 - it doesn't matter that it is run on the same weekend as V Festival, not everyone wants to go to V!
Being a member of one of the bands who was booked to play one of the two main stages, I am absolutely gutted that it is cancelled. But I am certain that this has not been a 'money making organisation' as some have suggested. The organisers tried to do something good for this city and once again, due to the recession and Mid-Sussex's bureaucrats, we have lost yet another event.
middle street resident
says...
7:56am Wed 26 Aug 09
The line-up was an insult to Brighton.
For Every Sprinkle I Find
says...
8:02am Wed 26 Aug 09
Most people are at Reading Festival anyway!
BobDobbs75
says...
8:07am Wed 26 Aug 09
Voice of the silent Majority
says...
8:11am Wed 26 Aug 09
Saulgone Petetong
says...
8:16am Wed 26 Aug 09
middle street resident wrote:Couldn't agree more........
not surprising at all. The line-up was an insult to Brighton.
Avangelist
says...
8:24am Wed 26 Aug 09
This is not Field Of Dreams
jooj
says...
8:33am Wed 26 Aug 09
They would have had agreements to pay people at particular times, and would have had plenty of idea that money wouldn't be available.
Agree - it was good last year... but you can't rely on last minute sales to fund an event this size, look at what happened to Pride as an example of the downturn this year. (The difference being Pride has the ability to pay the shortfall from reserve funds)
Rocker
says...
8:39am Wed 26 Aug 09
I doubt the email they sent out recently ("contrary to Brighton rumours,the festival is not sold out....") convinced no-one,because THERE WASN'T ANY RUMOUR and people knew this was a ploy.
Last years event wasn't good enough to lure people back again. And the organisers thought they were Gods gift to Brighton....no chance!
Festival won't be missed because it wasn't established.
When all the local hippies don't want to go,then there's something really wrong! Maybe overpriced food,overpriced drink and third rate entertainment doesn't work on the locals?
Seagull Nic
says...
9:23am Wed 26 Aug 09
tim e
says...
9:25am Wed 26 Aug 09
The place that can't get anything done.
rwargh
says...
9:26am Wed 26 Aug 09
large
says...
9:30am Wed 26 Aug 09
squidlips
says...
9:31am Wed 26 Aug 09
tim e
says...
9:32am Wed 26 Aug 09
The most useless shambolic place in Britian, it took 20 years to repair the bandstand.
Charismatic Andrew
says...
9:59am Wed 26 Aug 09
King from Hove
says...
10:40am Wed 26 Aug 09
jay316
says...
10:45am Wed 26 Aug 09
As has been said the line up was poor, and didn;t the same organisers pull out of a festival earlier in the year....
Finally I would hardly called Devils Dyke part of the city, for starters its a different council (Mid-Sussex Council), so for that reason alone its nothing at all to do with Brighton and Hove.
waspexile
says...
10:46am Wed 26 Aug 09
The statement about MSDC putting 100 strict regs in place is irrelevant. I'm no fan of MSDC but the festival is on the South Downs for heavens sake! MSDC have been licensing the South of England show for donkeys years and that makes Beachdown look like a family picnic. The south downs will be a National Park by next year. I reckon the chances of having a festival like this on the Downs next year are as likely as Pride turning into a Ku Klux Klan parade!
Mary Hinge
says...
10:47am Wed 26 Aug 09
King from Hove wrote:I don't think there will be a "next year". Burned bridges etc....
Amateurish planning.Same weekend as Reading?.Next year plan it in June and make sure it doesnt clash and advertise it properly.
Wanted Man
says...
10:47am Wed 26 Aug 09
They owe soooo many LOCAL SMALL businesses from last year.
They cite "lack of support from suppliers" as one of the main reasons.
The suppliers just did not want to get ripped off AGAIN by these thieves.
The event did not go ahead as NO ONE wanted to touch them, including the banks. The lies and empty promises caught up with them.
This is soooo Brighton!
Pathetic.
wardth
says...
10:52am Wed 26 Aug 09
large wrote:This sums up the organisers. I'm sorry but you have to have a good business plan to get money out of a bank and to endure in these difficult times. Thankfully I spoke to people who went last year and decided it would probably fall flat on its face this time around. Everybody I know complained of overpriced food and a less than adequate line up. They were prepared to give it another go - after all that was year one but when the lineup was announced for this year, it was clear that it simply wasn't worth the money. Other people obviously decided that was the case as well and voted by not opening their wallets. The lack of any mention of refunds should be investigated imeediately and if necessary, legal action should be brought. Its high time that vendors were forced to put advance ticket sales into escrow so that some or all of the money is refunded in the event of an issue.
B*stards....they must have known about their situation for weeks....I played the main stage last year with a large local Brighton-based band and we did not get paid by the organisers until April this year! The amount of excuses and bounced cheques made us vow not to have anything to do with them this year so we are off to Shambala instead.....
Personally I think the organisers whould be ashamed of themselves and if they had any spine whatsoever, they should immediately refund those tickets.
BobDobbs75
says...
10:54am Wed 26 Aug 09
Not really sure why there are so many negative comments like 'everyone is at Reading' and 'Festival won't be missed',
....welcome to the argus website, the home of negative commentary!!
all the signs have been there since last year, all well documented on here.. anyone who bought a ticket should of seen this coming months ago
yorkie44
says...
10:59am Wed 26 Aug 09
tim e wrote:Unfortunately the repair is crap as well.
How bloody Brighton! The most useless shambolic place in Britian, it took 20 years to repair the bandstand.
londonbythesea
says...
11:02am Wed 26 Aug 09
it is a money driven organisation, any business has to be to survive.
did you see how many beachdown official warm up events there were? also they did the beachdown gigs as well to make money.
small parties were what they should have stuck too, i doubt anyone will get any money back, stall holders have already been told they aren't getting their pitch fees back.
the chap who runs the security for the event stated
"i have a ridiculous amount of bad news phone calls to make in the morning due to other peoples ineptitude"
lets not forget too that the ppl who had tickets to bloom, which got canned and no refunds given were told they could pay a small sum of 20 odd quid and get into beachdown. now thats cancelled too. so they've lost even more money than the ppl who bouht tkts to beachdown.
running an event like this is not a right and nor is it a charity, it requires a lot of thought. recession killed it? rubbish!
their bank probably took one look at their business plan to get out of the financial hole and said "we wont entertain this nonsense any longer" and who can blame them when teir are other businesses which looks more certain on paper.
Bennn
says...
11:06am Wed 26 Aug 09
Brighton is still Brighton, and there will still be a big party up there this week-end thanks to the people of this wonderful city. Visit the Facebook group page:
http://www.facebook.
com/group.php?gid=12
2968961774&ref=searc
h&sid=502523364.2710
960016..1
Please write about this Argus so that as many people turn up as possible. It may be even batter than the original line-up :-)
BiggerH
says...
11:11am Wed 26 Aug 09
Had tickets been sold through Ticketmaster/similar outfit then I guess people would be getting refunds - I assume that hasn't happened here
Mary Hinge
says...
11:33am Wed 26 Aug 09
Bennn wrote:I can't see the police or MSCC allowing this somehow...
IMPORTANT!!!!! Brighton is still Brighton, and there will still be a big party up there this week-end thanks to the people of this wonderful city. Visit the Facebook group page: http://www.facebook. com/group.php?gid=12 2968961774&ref=s
earc h&sid=502523364.
2710 960016..1 Please write about this Argus so that as many people turn up as possible. It may be even batter than the original line-up :-)
security word: many-loss (no kidding)
Bennn
says...
11:36am Wed 26 Aug 09
PIGCITY
says...
11:39am Wed 26 Aug 09
Also watch out for the jokers who are running White Air. They've already upset a lot of Brighton people/businesses and there are a lot of people unhappy with them in the Festivals former location who will not work with those two guys again.
chewbarker20
says...
11:39am Wed 26 Aug 09
In no way am i an expert. Just someone who has to be careful with my money and decide to spend it wisely.
A few tips based on why i go to festivals.
If you are to run for 4 days, you need 4 QUALITY headliners, and a few other good bands would help! (book them and the people will come!)
A festival while fun is extremely tiring, 3 days is enough.
The site is only a romantic notion.
Having been to stanmer park festivals i know this is the much better option, and would also come under brighton and hove council and not mid-sussex who naturally impose stricter regulations as the area is a national park!
Let people bring their own personal alcohol with them, it helps for a better atmosphere.
Get a proffesional web designer, all major festivals sell out online! The beachdown website is terrible. If the line up and organisation is not confirmed and 100% confident why should the potential customer be wqilling to part with their money. Beachdown is not glastonbury which sold out 6 months before the actual date, a fledgling festival should have everything in place.
Get a solicitor! you going to need it for the claims back on tickets!
Get some proffesional and paid for help, i.e a P.R company to promote your event, get a main sponsor to help with costs, sell your tickets through a recognised and trusted ticket retailer such as ticketmaster.
i could go on but it is obvious these points have not been thought about. it is sad, but brighton being brighton we will still know how to have a party, see you this weekend at the site or black rock which im sure will be happening now, it will be just as much fun, and it will be free!
chris kirkham
says...
11:58am Wed 26 Aug 09
Oh why am I not suprised after gingerely buying my ticket a couple of days ago.Persuaded by my over enthusiastic girlfriend I nervously handed over a bundle of my hard-earned cash to a couple of tickets that I really never thought would get me anywhere except into more debt, and then two days later suprise suprise the festival is no more! Its only now that I discover the infamous Mr Pidgeon was involved in putting on this imaginary event. It is clear they were trying to recoup costs from last year's raindown festival and never intended to put the festival on this time, I doubt any of us will see our dosh again. Well, Readings out, no money, guess it's rave in the garden time.
Sweepster
says...
12:00pm Wed 26 Aug 09
BobDobbs75
says...
12:01pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Bennn wrote:Ha ha you're funny..
IMPORTANT!!!!!
Brighton is still Brighton, and there will still be a big party up there this week-end thanks to the people of this wonderful city. Visit the Facebook group page:
http://www.facebook.
com/group.php?gid=12
2968961774&ref=s
earc
h&sid=502523364.
2710
960016..1
Please write about this Argus so that as many people turn up as possible. It may be even batter than the original line-up :-)
1. the site is private property, and i expect the farmer has a gun.
2. sussex police will be waiting for you.
3. the site will be very busy for the event take-down, full of pi**ed off suppliers/truck drivers etc. who will be glad of some stoners to vent their spleen against.
4. "Brighton is still Brighton" so take your own advice and go party there.
I_C
says...
12:06pm Wed 26 Aug 09
For those of you with long memories, this brings back thoughts of Ish Ali and the Essential Festival.
Gerro
says...
12:09pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Granny
says...
12:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
censored
says...
12:51pm Wed 26 Aug 09
If you bought through an agent, then your contract of sale is with the agent. They HAVE to refund you, even if they don't get the money back from the promoters.
orange blossom
says...
1:17pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Tweet
says...
1:20pm Wed 26 Aug 09
So what to do now?....
Anything else being organised? What's everyone else doing?....
We're all out of pocket with no where to go and nothing to do!
NIck99
says...
1:21pm Wed 26 Aug 09
chris kirkham
says...
1:27pm Wed 26 Aug 09
co.uk/contactus.htm this is company behind it I am led to believe.
carlisusu
says...
1:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Beansy
says...
1:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Last year Beachdown lost a shed-load of money. Many suppliers didn’t get paid. Others had to wait months. One has to ask, where did the money come from to pay the lucky few that waited and were eventually paid? From the 2009 income, of course. The directors would have been taking concession fees from bars and merchandising, pitch fees from caterers and traders, and money from punters for tickets and any other investments they could scrape together. But this was not going to fund the 2009 event, much of it was needed to pay 2008’s bills in an attempt to stem the flow of criticism and reassure suppliers that all was well.
But of course cash was also needed to pay this year’s suppliers, the art of cash flow is reducing the need for cash up-front as much as possible. Some suppliers will just take a deposit with the balance to come after the event, but others who know that there were problems last year would want to be paid 100% up-front. Where there is no credit, this must be from cash in the bank. Some companies pulled out when Beachdown was unable to pay 100% up front. As has been pointed out there are loads of other gigs, with better reputations, where they know they will get paid.
For the directors to say that they had been let down by suppliers is just nonsense. This is a small industry, most suppliers know and talk to each other. The suppliers have families, employees and responsibilities, they cannot be in business to help untrustworthy promoters try again.
The directors say in the statement on their website that they ‘explored’ risking their own houses, but exploring is not doing, and one can only assume that they didn’t have the courage of their convictions and were damned if they were going to lose their homes.
You certainly don’t need to see the books to know that this event was going nowhere without some serious additional funding. And if that funding had arrived it would have come from a commercial partner, after all, friends and family lost too much last year to fund the event again. Any commercial partner would be buying publicity as a sponsor or buying a share in the company, and either way they would want everyone to know about it – it most certainly would not have been kept quiet. And no such announcement was forthcoming.
In short they were hoping everyone else would pay up-front to fund the event. And when too many of those said ‘no’ the festival was sunk.
So why did it take so long to cancel? There are two possibilities, blind optimism or cynical manipulation, neither of which do the directors much credit.
Were they simply hoping it would all work out in the end? Hoping that they could get suppliers to give them credit terms, hoping that ticket sales would pick up in the last few days, raking through the bones of the Big Green Gathering and other cancelled festivals, hoping that there would be a last minute rush of people paying a meagre, but much-needed top up fee? Hoping the best weather forecasts on numerous websites were the most accurate. Who knows? They may even have believed it themselves. They have been completely immersed in this festival since the planning for the last event started, I doubt they have thought of much else. From that very distorted perspective one can imagine them scraping every bit of hope together into a pile and thinking ‘Yeah! that looks okay’.
On the other hand they may have known for months that it was dead in the water and were just unable to find a way out without taking the hit themselves.
Beachdown was a nice idea, poorly realised and badly managed on a lousy site. Anyone involved in it who seriously believed it would happen this year was fooling themselves. But it is the punters who will take the major hit, and the reputation of start-up festivals will dip once again – which is a pity, it would have been nice to have a decent Brighton-based festival. Let’s hope the next lot who try, (and someone will) have more experience, less wishful thinking and are not scuppered by the punters’ memories of this example of how not to do it.
luke tg
says...
1:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Gerro
says...
1:49pm Wed 26 Aug 09
"I have been informed that the best thing you can do is to be a little bit patient with Beachdown over these coming days and full details on what's happening will be on the website from Tuesday onwards"
so basically enjoy your Bank Hol weekend doing something else and by then they might have pulled theirs heads out their @rses and actually have some contructive information for reimbursing people. Charming.
ukbesty
says...
2:01pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Tweet
says...
2:02pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Gerro
says...
2:04pm Wed 26 Aug 09
1) is prob fully booked by now
2) wouldn't want 12 guys on a stag do
but let us know if u find one..and if you don't then just find a pikey white van or old ambulance, park it slap bang in the middle of a park and say you are a traveller and you'll be given red carpet treatment.
Rocker
says...
2:06pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Brighton is a small place,and bad news travels fast.Seasoned festival goers had been giving the heads-up on this years do being an unmitigated disaster to anyone who would listen.Many did,and kept their money safe.
How are people going to be refunded,if the money has already been spent??
DC&M
says...
2:09pm Wed 26 Aug 09
nkcentre.co.uk/ Best of all, it won't be cancelled!
citizen k
says...
2:18pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Christophe Hawtree
says...
2:21pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Another Brighton non-starter.
Gerro
says...
2:22pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Mary Hinge
says...
2:38pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Tasty.
This might be of interest:
http://www.theargus.
co.uk/lifehealth/goi
nggreen/the_green_ro
oom/3654915.Joe_Pidg
eon__festival_organi
ser__Brighton/
Hove777
says...
2:46pm Wed 26 Aug 09
In addition, there are 2 further words to add to the reasons for cancelling at the 11th hour: insurance fraud.
A.N.Other now ex employee can tell you that Beachdown organisers well knew it was going to be cancelled weeks ago when they failed to book the crew and equipment necessary to make it happen. All they have to do to get an insurance payout is make it look as though most of the event was set up and ready to go; so they marked the site, got some of the marquees up, got some local crew in for a couple of days etc.
Beachdown will claim back what it can from insurers so at least the directors and organisers don't lose out.
Never mind the hundreds of small businesses and sole traders that will not see a penny from the insurers. They don't matter, do they?
Beachdown, how arrogant you are. This a very small industry where many people know each other and it's all about building good relationships with people that can make it happen. Much like Ish Ali, Joe Pidgeon and Neil Kransten will no doubt have trouble organising an event again without water tight purchase orders and funds up front.
If you are ever asked to work for any of these guys, be warned. They have all left a lot of unpaid bills behind them.
Shame. Beachdown could have been so great for Brighton. Let's hope the next lot that try it have more experience, better scruples and a whole lot more common sense.
BiggerH
says...
2:53pm Wed 26 Aug 09
MarcoPolo
says...
2:57pm Wed 26 Aug 09
realitycheque
says...
2:59pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Beansy wrote:quoting this excellent post as the voice of sanity here.
The cancellation of the Beachdown Festival has nothing to do with licensing bureaucracy, competition from other festivals, the line-up or poor weather forecasts. It failed for the same reason as most businesses fail, lack of cash flow. Last year Beachdown lost a shed-load of money. Many suppliers didn’t get paid. Others had to wait months. One has to ask, where did the money come from to pay the lucky few that waited and were eventually paid? From the 2009 income, of course. The directors would have been taking concession fees from bars and merchandising, pitch fees from caterers and traders, and money from punters for tickets and any other investments they could scrape together. But this was not going to fund the 2009 event, much of it was needed to pay 2008’s bills in an attempt to stem the flow of criticism and reassure suppliers that all was well. But of course cash was also needed to pay this year’s suppliers, the art of cash flow is reducing the need for cash up-front as much as possible. Some suppliers will just take a deposit with the balance to come after the event, but others who know that there were problems last year would want to be paid 100% up-front. Where there is no credit, this must be from cash in the bank. Some companies pulled out when Beachdown was unable to pay 100% up front. As has been pointed out there are loads of other gigs, with better reputations, where they know they will get paid. For the directors to say that they had been let down by suppliers is just nonsense. This is a small industry, most suppliers know and talk to each other. The suppliers have families, employees and responsibilities, they cannot be in business to help untrustworthy promoters try again. The directors say in the statement on their website that they ‘explored’ risking their own houses, but exploring is not doing, and one can only assume that they didn’t have the courage of their convictions and were damned if they were going to lose their homes. You certainly don’t need to see the books to know that this event was going nowhere without some serious additional funding. And if that funding had arrived it would have come from a commercial partner, after all, friends and family lost too much last year to fund the event again. Any commercial partner would be buying publicity as a sponsor or buying a share in the company, and either way they would want everyone to know about it – it most certainly would not have been kept quiet. And no such announcement was forthcoming. In short they were hoping everyone else would pay up-front to fund the event. And when too many of those said ‘no’ the festival was sunk. So why did it take so long to cancel? There are two possibilities, blind optimism or cynical manipulation, neither of which do the directors much credit. Were they simply hoping it would all work out in the end? Hoping that they could get suppliers to give them credit terms, hoping that ticket sales would pick up in the last few days, raking through the bones of the Big Green Gathering and other cancelled festivals, hoping that there would be a last minute rush of people paying a meagre, but much-needed top up fee? Hoping the best weather forecasts on numerous websites were the most accurate. Who knows? They may even have believed it themselves. They have been completely immersed in this festival since the planning for the last event started, I doubt they have thought of much else. From that very distorted perspective one can imagine them scraping every bit of hope together into a pile and thinking ‘Yeah! that looks okay’. On the other hand they may have known for months that it was dead in the water and were just unable to find a way out without taking the hit themselves. Beachdown was a nice idea, poorly realised and badly managed on a lousy site. Anyone involved in it who seriously believed it would happen this year was fooling themselves. But it is the punters who will take the major hit, and the reputation of start-up festivals will dip once again – which is a pity, it would have been nice to have a decent Brighton-based festival. Let’s hope the next lot who try, (and someone will) have more experience, less wishful thinking and are not scuppered by the punters’ memories of this example of how not to do it.
Tweet
says...
3:00pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Mary Hinge
says...
3:05pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Tweet wrote:Here it is again (Argus line-breaks the URL in a crazy way, sorry)
Mary Hinge - link doesn't work!
http://www.theargus.
co.uk/lifehealth/goi
nggreen/the_green_ro
oom/3654915.Joe_Pidg
eon__festival_organi
ser__Brighton/
If that doesn't work click on "Features" on the Argus home page, then "Going Green" and click through til you get to the page from 8th September last year. It's a short profile of Mr Pidgeon from the pages of this very rag.
Barty80
says...
3:07pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Still onwards and upwards have booked a girly theatre break to London instead. Can't wallow in self pity forever!!
CaptainStarbucks
says...
3:20pm Wed 26 Aug 09
ukbesty wrote:How about drag bingo in the Bulldog? Don't drink the wine though as it makes your bottom sore the next morning!
Any ideas for alternative weekend for a group of 12 on a stag? Any stag friendly camping near Brighton?
worstdaytoday
says...
3:21pm Wed 26 Aug 09
sensible1
says...
3:23pm Wed 26 Aug 09
furrycow
says...
3:48pm Wed 26 Aug 09
N-dogg
says...
3:57pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Tweet
says...
4:04pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Masterchav
says...
4:04pm Wed 26 Aug 09
furrycow
says...
4:07pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Tweet wrote:fair point, I guess it's just all the negative talking blaming the organisers and saying it was rubbish last year. Everyone's lost out I guess. But if I had the choice of losing my ticket or house. I think I know which one I'd go for.
Errrrm, furrycow, residents of Brighton are the ones who made this happen last year. We were the ones that bought the tickets. Not sure how it's our fault?
JontyBloom
says...
4:20pm Wed 26 Aug 09
r.com/page2.htm#beac
hdown The bit about the beachdown organisors selling a ticket for parking to one person just a day before the whole thing crumbles is particularly galling. What a mess.
Cheesed Off
says...
4:25pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Surely, the organisers (in the loosest sense of the word) dont just think that one paltry (and imo self pitying)page on their own website advising that its cancelled is job done? People have put faith in this and I personally feel cheated and let down.. Once I finally got through to them Ticketline have said that they have no information and I should hold on to my (now worthless) tickets and await further correspondence leaving me £300 out of pocket with no plans for the long weekend.. Thanks a lot Beachdown. There are rumours all over the net of poor management, acts coming from abroad having their travel expenses cancelled months ago and insurance fraud.. Sick!!
Rocksteady
says...
4:29pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Gerorfmoilaaand
says...
4:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Bennn
says...
4:51pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Rocksteady wrote:1) Brighton is still one of the party capitals of the UK mate. Do you think that people are suddenly going to say: "Ooooh Beachdown is cancelled, Brighton isn't a great place to party anymore".
Brighton's reputation as a great place to party dropped a few notches today... as did the chance people will pay upfront for smaller UK festivals in future... unfortunately there just too many festivals in August.... the most successful ones being those with a reputation of being able to deliver....... Brighton is just a small town that struggles today to fill moderate sized nightclubs.... if Gay Pride charged punters entry to flaunt their sexuality... my belief is Pride would be buggered too (excuse the pun).... Brighton has enormous talent... a great energy and front edge musical tastes....... It also has expensive accomodation.... poor wages and virtually no job vacancies... last Thursdays Argus had just one page containing 8 jobs...... So if Brightonians did'nt fork out £100 each to attend a festival with a not so good line-up and expensive catering why be surprised...... The Fat Boy Slim in a big local festival arena (not the seafront) at £30 is a much better idea.... perhaps the council could recoup a few quid by "indirectly" organising it....
2) I wouldn't call a city of 300000 a "small town". Lewes maybe, not Brighton & Hove
3) Which nightclubs do you go to? Most of them are packed at weekends. I was down the Ocean Rooms on tursday and even mid-week at 3am it was almost full downstairs.
4) You're right, not as many job vacancies as before, but it's the same thing everywhere in Europe now. Remember that the unemployment rate in the south east is only 5%, compared to 10% in France or even 20% in Spain. Brighton is also doing a lot better than many cities in the UK since the start of the recession.
5) I agree: bring back Fatboy on the beach!
Crunchie
says...
4:54pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Crunchie
says...
4:56pm Wed 26 Aug 09
bibble
says...
5:06pm Wed 26 Aug 09
If you can't do it, teach.
If you can't teach, teach PE.
If you can't teach PE, think up regulations.
Beansy
says...
5:13pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Barty80 wrote:Barty8o will not be alone. The Argus covered the initial failure to pay debts in some detail earlier in the year. Beachdown admited they owed a few suppliers, but insisted everyone would be paid (some still haven't been) and said everything was fine. This glossy spin continued up to a week ago with well written press releases continually hyping it up, especially the mendacious claims good ticket sales. This of course is exactly what a promoter should do. Trouble is that much of it was just reprinted without reference to the previous problems, again, exactly what most newspapers will do - after all there's little mileage in slagging off local 'entrepreneurs'. So the story was there, but you really would have had to dig deep and be paying attention to extract the significant point that this gig was not likely to happen.
I am one of the poor ticket holders. I have never been to a festival, always fancied it, thought this would be a good first one. What makes me LAUGH after reading all these comments is that despite all the research I did before booking, I didn't see any comments like the above, the organisers, the sham of last yr, the money problems, all I saw was positive comments and feedback including in the 'Cool Festival' guidebook.. isn't hindsight a wonderful thing, a few more forums with comments from the people who felt duped from last year or who had 'no faith' that it would go ahead would have been marvellous!
Still onwards and upwards have booked a girly theatre break to London instead. Can't wallow in self pity forever!!
tsimpkins
says...
5:15pm Wed 26 Aug 09
security words: doomed to fail
Gerorfmoilaaand
says...
5:18pm Wed 26 Aug 09
BobDobbs75
says...
5:26pm Wed 26 Aug 09
bibble wrote:i expect the regulations were in place to protect the rights of the people in the immediate vicinity, and the chance that with good bank holiday weather thousands may of turned up to jump the fence and over-run the site and the surrounding countryside. The regulations were certainly a lot tighter than last year which suggests the council didn't like what they saw.
The "nearly 100 strict conditions imposed by Mid Sussex District Council" hardly helped matters. These regulations are dreamt up by people who can't do anything worthwhile.
If you can't do it, teach.
If you can't teach, teach PE.
If you can't teach PE, think up regulations.
londonbythesea
says...
5:36pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Crunchie wrote:Trading while insolvent isnt a crime however "Trading while insolvent without a reasonable expectation of trading back into a solvent position" is a criminal offence
Hopefully the Beachdown directors will be sued for trading while insolvent (which means they have to refund people from their personal assets rather than the company's).
The law being misunderstood is the 'wrongful trading' provision of the Insolvency Act 1986
Sweepster
says...
5:38pm Wed 26 Aug 09
when Latitude was starts 4 (I think) years ago I'm sure I read the organisers say it will take at least 3 years for it to become a profitable event.
So if Latitude can do it, why couldnt Beachdown? Sounds like bad management to me.
thevoiceoftruth
says...
5:44pm Wed 26 Aug 09
s.co.uk/forums/index
.php?showtopic=12707
6&st=20
It seems they knew that this festival was virtually bankrupt and was never going to happen so didn't promote it. I quote....
"What we have known since the end of last year is that ticket money from sales for this year was being used to pay off some of last year's debts (some debts still haven't been settled and are proceding to court), which made this year's event seem unviable to us.
You might have noticed that eFestivals didn't run any news on the various Beachdown announcements for this year, and that was deliberate - knowing what we do know, we always felt it was unlikely to happen or if it did go ahead it probably wouldn't be much like it was advertised as - and so we didn't think it was wise to encourage our readers to go by running news stories about it"
So not sure I believe the organisers who seem to have been stringing this out in order to get as much money as possible before the inevitable cancellation.
Chessietd
says...
5:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Really feel for people with tickets for this.
James at the Concorde is AS EVER being a hero machine. At least they're offering ticket holders what they were promised; the Brighton bands at no extra charge. I hear they've rescued a lot of the acts and transfered them over. They're looking to put up funds for some of the larger acts as well. A selfless act, just what's been needed.
C2 are refunding all tickets brought from them as well. Hats off too them.
londonbythesea
says...
6:14pm Wed 26 Aug 09
londonbythesea
says...
6:34pm Wed 26 Aug 09
http://twitter.com/H
eyRusty/statuses/355
8856910
furrycow
says...
6:40pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:I live in the vicinity, the regulations catered for the dismal village of Poynings and the stuck up people who live there with all their crazy demands like, 'where am I supposed to walk my horse at the weekend'! Not one incident happened in your beloved hobbit hole last year. As far as I can remember none of you had a leg to stand on in your little council hut meetings with all the lies you were trying to spin, let's not make fools of ourselves again hey? I think the alternative to this weekend should be a rave in your lovely playing field.
These regulations are dreamt up by people who care about the people who actually live in the vicinity, if you want festivals, keep them in Brighton where no one will bat an eyelid at all the crusties and dogs on string, why the hell should we put up with your din and filth.......
Beansy
says...
6:46pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Barty80 wrote:Have a look at the conditions for yourself.
I am one of the poor ticket holders. I have never been to a festival, always fancied it, thought this would be a good first one. What makes me LAUGH after reading all these comments is that despite all the research I did before booking, I didn't see any comments like the above, the organisers, the sham of last yr, the money problems, all I saw was positive comments and feedback including in the 'Cool Festival' guidebook.. isn't hindsight a wonderful thing, a few more forums with comments from the people who felt duped from last year or who had 'no faith' that it would go ahead would have been marvellous!
Still onwards and upwards have booked a girly theatre break to London instead. Can't wallow in self pity forever!!
http://www.midsussex
.gov.uk/Nimoi/sites/
msdcpublic/resources
/Beachdown2009Condit
ions .pdf
Most of them are quite reasonable and are what any competent festival organiser should expect to include in their planning. There are a few areas where the conditions appear draconian, but these are the result of having got it wrong in 2008. Bearing in mind the, let us say, conservative nature of the area, a degree of stridency was only to be expected.
One interesting point is what happens to the £50,844.55 invoiced by the police for covering the event and due for payment in the first week of August. Assuming it has a) not been reduced (condition 34) and b) has actually been paid, will any of it be available to reimburse unpaid suppliers, traders and concessionaires and ticket holders or will it all be taken by the usual preferential creditors and lawyers?
Another sum of £100,000 (condition 49) was to be assured to the local authority in June to cover damage to the highway infrastructure. This was not necessarily to be paid in cash, a bond or insurance policy would have been acceptable, therefore it is unlikely that this sum is available to cover outstanding debts.
We shall have to wait and see. Another splendid reason to keep reading The Argus.
hollygolightly
says...
6:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
scentral
says...
7:49pm Wed 26 Aug 09
There will probably be a few joining me on Brighton beach with a few cans and an i-pod in that case.. but I promise I wont gloat about having NOT lost £100.
Whizzy
says...
7:50pm Wed 26 Aug 09
It was obvious this years ticket sales would be paying off last years debt. Not necessarily gonna make money in the first few years of starting a brand new festival but you got to pay the workers. Shame noone thought of that when they started on this journey.
Was great to having a "local" festival. Organisers got it wrong not allowing any drink & limiting food allowed in, too many rules & regs. We're all in a recession here and noone's made of money, shot yourself in the foot!
Don't care who was on, there were enough bands/artists to attract me. If you don't like who's on, don't go, it's very simple.
Gutted, the last summer bank holiday won't be the same. RIP Beachdown
Gerorfmoilaaand
says...
7:53pm Wed 26 Aug 09
furrycow wrote:Loser, I hope you don't get your money back, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:I live in the vicinity, the regulations catered for the dismal village of Poynings and the stuck up people who live there with all their crazy demands like, 'where am I supposed to walk my horse at the weekend'! Not one incident happened in your beloved hobbit hole last year. As far as I can remember none of you had a leg to stand on in your little council hut meetings with all the lies you were trying to spin, let's not make fools of ourselves again hey? I think the alternative to this weekend should be a rave in your lovely playing field.
These regulations are dreamt up by people who care about the people who actually live in the vicinity, if you want festivals, keep them in Brighton where no one will bat an eyelid at all the crusties and dogs on string, why the hell should we put up with your din and filth.......
furrycow
says...
7:56pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:Brilliant! didn't actually pay for one. I know where you live.
furrycow wrote:Loser, I hope you don't get your money back, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:I live in the vicinity, the regulations catered for the dismal village of Poynings and the stuck up people who live there with all their crazy demands like, 'where am I supposed to walk my horse at the weekend'! Not one incident happened in your beloved hobbit hole last year. As far as I can remember none of you had a leg to stand on in your little council hut meetings with all the lies you were trying to spin, let's not make fools of ourselves again hey? I think the alternative to this weekend should be a rave in your lovely playing field.
These regulations are dreamt up by people who care about the people who actually live in the vicinity, if you want festivals, keep them in Brighton where no one will bat an eyelid at all the crusties and dogs on string, why the hell should we put up with your din and filth.......
Gerorfmoilaaand
says...
8:42pm Wed 26 Aug 09
furrycow wrote:Maybe you can do something useful this weekend now, like sticking your head in the gas oven.....
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:Brilliant! didn't actually pay for one. I know where you live.
furrycow wrote:Loser, I hope you don't get your money back, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:I live in the vicinity, the regulations catered for the dismal village of Poynings and the stuck up people who live there with all their crazy demands like, 'where am I supposed to walk my horse at the weekend'! Not one incident happened in your beloved hobbit hole last year. As far as I can remember none of you had a leg to stand on in your little council hut meetings with all the lies you were trying to spin, let's not make fools of ourselves again hey? I think the alternative to this weekend should be a rave in your lovely playing field.
These regulations are dreamt up by people who care about the people who actually live in the vicinity, if you want festivals, keep them in Brighton where no one will bat an eyelid at all the crusties and dogs on string, why the hell should we put up with your din and filth.......
scaffolder
says...
9:15pm Wed 26 Aug 09
BecksBrighton
says...
9:23pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Rocker
says...
9:32pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Also on efestival website is a comment which probably sums up the whole situation : "The problem with the likes of Beachdown is that it's tried to establish itself as a big fest without having the big finance behind it to do it. The only way it would have ever succeeded is by getting lucky" and " Like any business it should have the investment in place beforehand to match its ambitions"
Out of their depth.....but protected by being a limited company.
Beansy
says...
9:51pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Disappointed24
says...
10:00pm Wed 26 Aug 09
"
http://www.theargus.
co.uk/lifehealth/goi
nggreen/the_green_ro
oom/3654915.Joe_Pidg
eon__festival_organi
ser__Brighton/
londonbythesea
says...
10:01pm Wed 26 Aug 09
"practically sold out...tickets now only available online...all physical tickets now sold out in most outlets"
facebook 26th august
"...due to slower than forecast ticket-sales...we have been forced to cancel the event..."
discotek
says...
10:02pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Great line up, great location and Brighton is a winning combination...
the problem lies with the arrogance of the promotors after last years complete disaster of a festival, rather than apply for Awards, they should have apologised for opening the gates hours and hours late, for not having the site safe before the day of the event. For not having the site set up properly and not making enough consideration of the wants of proper festival goers.
No apology, no offer to look after those affected. arrogant statements about 'jumping in to save bloom' and now a self pitying statement, with barely an apology for the festival goers themselves.
Poor marketing and arrogance have ruined what should have been a total sell out event, just like every single other festival has this bank holiday weekend!
Let's just hope Brighton does what it does best and saves the day for no-one other than the people who want to dance and enjoy themselves this weekend!
longwayhome
says...
10:08pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:You sound like a beautiful person Gerorfmoilaaand - looks like we have all had a lucky escape not having to come anywhere near you - presumably you will return the favour by not coming anywhere near Brighton.
furrycow wrote:Maybe you can do something useful this weekend now, like sticking your head in the gas oven.....
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:Brilliant! didn't actually pay for one. I know where you live.
furrycow wrote:Loser, I hope you don't get your money back, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:I live in the vicinity, the regulations catered for the dismal village of Poynings and the stuck up people who live there with all their crazy demands like, 'where am I supposed to walk my horse at the weekend'! Not one incident happened in your beloved hobbit hole last year. As far as I can remember none of you had a leg to stand on in your little council hut meetings with all the lies you were trying to spin, let's not make fools of ourselves again hey? I think the alternative to this weekend should be a rave in your lovely playing field.
These regulations are dreamt up by people who care about the people who actually live in the vicinity, if you want festivals, keep them in Brighton where no one will bat an eyelid at all the crusties and dogs on string, why the hell should we put up with your din and filth.......
discotek
says...
10:26pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Good people around him, Ida, Ali, Darren etc, but Mr' Big let them and everyone else down in this case.
Poor show, embarassing....
Disappointed24
says...
10:28pm Wed 26 Aug 09
http://4.bp.blogspot
.com/_Di7ys15etO8/Sp
WgoMt4lQI/AAAAAAAAFh
E/ddaxs7G6yfA/s1600-
h/-1.jpg
new to B-town but surely the home of direct action, non?
urs, out of pocket +++ x
Disappointed24
says...
10:30pm Wed 26 Aug 09
auldgold
says...
11:13pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Bust
says...
11:49pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Be warned, and in future only pay by credit card, only then is your money protected.
bumbee'd
says...
2:36am Thu 27 Aug 09
. I've volunteered many festivals and never had to pay a penny, so I thought that it was strange that we had to do this, I'm so glad I didn't bother now!!
Gerorfmoilaaand
says...
3:31am Thu 27 Aug 09
longwayhome wrote:Believe me, I avoid it like the plague, I lived there for many years; drug addicts, winos, crusties, beggars, deeply sad fashionistas, and failed Londoners, I feel in need of a good bath when I have the misfortune to have to drive through the place.
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:You sound like a beautiful person Gerorfmoilaaand - looks like we have all had a lucky escape not having to come anywhere near you - presumably you will return the favour by not coming anywhere near Brighton.
furrycow wrote:Maybe you can do something useful this weekend now, like sticking your head in the gas oven.....
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:Brilliant! didn't actually pay for one. I know where you live.
furrycow wrote:Loser, I hope you don't get your money back, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Gerorfmoilaaand wrote:I live in the vicinity, the regulations catered for the dismal village of Poynings and the stuck up people who live there with all their crazy demands like, 'where am I supposed to walk my horse at the weekend'! Not one incident happened in your beloved hobbit hole last year. As far as I can remember none of you had a leg to stand on in your little council hut meetings with all the lies you were trying to spin, let's not make fools of ourselves again hey? I think the alternative to this weekend should be a rave in your lovely playing field.
These regulations are dreamt up by people who care about the people who actually live in the vicinity, if you want festivals, keep them in Brighton where no one will bat an eyelid at all the crusties and dogs on string, why the hell should we put up with your din and filth.......
londonbythesea
says...
7:14am Thu 27 Aug 09
Disappointed24 wrote:a rather wonderful photo of the man himself, joe pidgeon.
perhaps this image should be printed off and nailed to every 'telegraph pole' in brighton, wild west style, under the caption 'Wanted ..':
http://4.bp.blogspot
.com/_Di7ys15etO8/Sp
WgoMt4lQI/AAAAAAAAFh
E/ddaxs7G6yfA/s1600-
h/-1.jpg
new to B-town but surely the home of direct action, non?
urs, out of pocket +++ x
are those sunglasses hiding perhaps tears of anguish over the cancellation of the festival or is he just another too cool brighton lad?
what about the other people behind beachdown, darren for example, cant let poor old joe shoulder the blame himself......
londonbythesea
says...
7:27am Thu 27 Aug 09
a great marketing ploy or perhpas early signs of a cash problem?
my thoughts are that all the time of those involved would have been better spent focussing 100% on the actual festival itself and not these other events. and if these other events also lost money? then that's even worse....
londonbythesea
says...
7:30am Thu 27 Aug 09
Bust wrote:if the financial position is not a licensing issue then that makes a mockery of one story circulating. the story states that the licence was pulled because of the financial issues surrounding the festival earlier in the week, rather than the organisers canning it themselves.
For the record, Councillors at Mid Sussex who were concerned that contractors from last year had not been paid, asked Mr Pigeon to provide evidence that that he had the financial backing to hold this year's festival. Pigeon's barrister pointed out (correctly) that that the financial position of the organisers was none of their business and was "not a licensing issue". If the licensing system in this country does not allow those who try to protect the public from being ripped off, then this will happen again and again. There is nothing any licensing authority can do about it.
Be warned, and in future only pay by credit card, only then is your money protected.
Barty80
says...
7:50am Thu 27 Aug 09
Beansy wrote:Thanks for the replies..very interesting reading.. I have a couple of small gripes..
Barty80 wrote:Have a look at the conditions for yourself.
I am one of the poor ticket holders. I have never been to a festival, always fancied it, thought this would be a good first one. What makes me LAUGH after reading all these comments is that despite all the research I did before booking, I didn't see any comments like the above, the organisers, the sham of last yr, the money problems, all I saw was positive comments and feedback including in the 'Cool Festival' guidebook.. isn't hindsight a wonderful thing, a few more forums with comments from the people who felt duped from last year or who had 'no faith' that it would go ahead would have been marvellous!
Still onwards and upwards have booked a girly theatre break to London instead. Can't wallow in self pity forever!!
http://www.midsussex
.gov.uk/Nimoi/sites/
msdcpublic/resources
/Beachdown2009Condit
ions .pdf
Most of them are quite reasonable and are what any competent festival organiser should expect to include in their planning. There are a few areas where the conditions appear draconian, but these are the result of having got it wrong in 2008. Bearing in mind the, let us say, conservative nature of the area, a degree of stridency was only to be expected.
One interesting point is what happens to the £50,844.55 invoiced by the police for covering the event and due for payment in the first week of August. Assuming it has a) not been reduced (condition 34) and b) has actually been paid, will any of it be available to reimburse unpaid suppliers, traders and concessionaires and ticket holders or will it all be taken by the usual preferential creditors and lawyers?
Another sum of £100,000 (condition 49) was to be assured to the local authority in June to cover damage to the highway infrastructure. This was not necessarily to be paid in cash, a bond or insurance policy would have been acceptable, therefore it is unlikely that this sum is available to cover outstanding debts.
We shall have to wait and see. Another splendid reason to keep reading The Argus.
1) I'm not from Brighton so don't generally read the Argus, so despite their 'findings/reports' I wouldn't have seen them.
2) When I mention 'reseraching' festivals, I was more looking at festival forums/national press (which, even on the BD website had all been positive comments).. as a novice first timer, it wouldn't occur to me to research the organisers 'financial state' and I would never dreamed of looking at http://www.midsussex
.gov.uk/Nimoi/sites/
msdcpublic/resources
/Beachdown2009Condit
ions .pdf ... live and learn 'eh?
To me, I consider myself a fairly savvy person and thought the website seemed legit, professional (if I'm honest) and they seemed to have the backing of a lot of local businesses - so were none of the sponsors/local businesses/restauran
ts that were mentioned actually behind this event?
I feel more upbeat today, but am still hugely gutted and still feel duped.
Very embarrassing!
pancaker
says...
8:33am Thu 27 Aug 09
N-dogg
says...
9:25am Thu 27 Aug 09
Bust
says...
9:42am Thu 27 Aug 09
londonbythesea wrote:The organisers have always been fully aware of the costs/guarantees/bon
Bust wrote:if the financial position is not a licensing issue then that makes a mockery of one story circulating. the story states that the licence was pulled because of the financial issues surrounding the festival earlier in the week, rather than the organisers canning it themselves.
For the record, Councillors at Mid Sussex who were concerned that contractors from last year had not been paid, asked Mr Pigeon to provide evidence that that he had the financial backing to hold this year's festival. Pigeon's barrister pointed out (correctly) that that the financial position of the organisers was none of their business and was "not a licensing issue". If the licensing system in this country does not allow those who try to protect the public from being ripped off, then this will happen again and again. There is nothing any licensing authority can do about it.
Be warned, and in future only pay by credit card, only then is your money protected.
ds required of them. These are standard for events such as this. It is not that the financial issues were not known, it was that the money wasn't there in the first place. Joe Pigeon has been winging it for 2 years.
They have taken the money from punters up to the last conceivable moment, then pull the event, and then think that heart-fealt apology will do.
Does anyone know what the food is like in Lewes Prison?
trader101
says...
9:56am Thu 27 Aug 09
DAZZY68
says...
10:04am Thu 27 Aug 09
jay316 wrote:OK, you lot, listen to this, I have read almost all of your comments and here is my reply to all of them, Joe Pidgeon should quite simply face criminal charges for what he has done! I am not one of the suppliers that he has mentioned but the way he has worded it he has blamed them. I was supposed to be a major part of this event but for the last 12 months I have been trying to get paid for last years event!!! My company decided aftr he begged us and pleaded with us to help him out and various promises that we would be paid for last year to give him another chance.
Its does NOT help that this is run on the same weekend as well established festivals such as Leeds, Reading and Solfest.
So many providers from last year still have not been paid, wheres the money gone Joe???
we did not demand payment up front like the others did but I truly understand why they did, basically the directors of Beachdown should be brought up on charges of deception and fraud.
I feel extremely sorry for all the punters out there who were taken in by this con man.
I have already mentioned in this quote but the question still remains, where did all the money go???
good luck to all those people, like me who have also wasted an awful lot of money on this in recovering it because I can guarantee that you will not get a penny, well done beachdown directors, you mugged us all off!!!!
ps, see you in court
carlisusu
says...
12:15pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Randsta
says...
12:38pm Thu 27 Aug 09
no surprise
says...
1:50pm Thu 27 Aug 09
no surprise
says...
1:50pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Mr. Kipling
says...
2:12pm Thu 27 Aug 09
trader101
says...
4:00pm Thu 27 Aug 09
furrycow wrote:feel for the organizers.... do me a favor , saying they were going to re morgage there houses, what a joke .
I feel for the organizers, they put a lot into making this work. Last year WAS awesome. I'm not sure what all the negativity is about. People did want to go this year but thought they could just jump the fence. So really the penniless hippie's did want to go, but wouldn't part with any money. Thanks Beachdown for last year, it was amazing and thanks residents of Brighton for ruining things again!
i spent thousands on this event and doubt i'll see a penny back from those thieves . small businesses like mine could be ruined by that bunch of scum bags . they should be shot
hobo
says...
8:55pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Disappointed24
says...
10:20pm Thu 27 Aug 09
are you f*****g kidding me??? tried their best? possibly. defraud and deception last 2 weeks (at least)? they were taking money off people right up to last minute. they even contacted my mate in NHS *THIS WEEK* to offer half price tix. Happy you've got a parent who can give you £250k for some 'no mark 1st festival pie-eyed let me show i can be a success' scheme, but they were happy to con low paid public sector workers money WE utterly graft for, right up until the judgement hour. they need to fry. lose your fancy flint, white washed conservatory? my arse. u'll get yours pal 'in this life or the next.'
And as for the BBC -- Show me the money! they got the softest left off, of an interview from bbc south east this evening. I am incredulous that the fundamental question was not asked: what provision have you made for those who've given you money to get it back? double screwed. BBC. that's my tax-payers money. are you all in it together?
Dave At Home
says...
10:33pm Thu 27 Aug 09
trader101 wrote:and you were doing this for charity were you? give me a break..... you were coming down here to fleece them as well and well you know it..... Brighton does not need any more rip off merchants.... stay away.
furrycow wrote:feel for the organizers.... do me a favor , saying they were going to re morgage there houses, what a joke .
I feel for the organizers, they put a lot into making this work. Last year WAS awesome. I'm not sure what all the negativity is about. People did want to go this year but thought they could just jump the fence. So really the penniless hippie's did want to go, but wouldn't part with any money. Thanks Beachdown for last year, it was amazing and thanks residents of Brighton for ruining things again!
i spent thousands on this event and doubt i'll see a penny back from those thieves . small businesses like mine could be ruined by that bunch of scum bags . they should be shot
theobserver
says...
11:36pm Thu 27 Aug 09
There is no denying last year was a lot of fun,despite it not being full & the weather being changeable.
If you were trading there,maybe it was less so but from the point of view of most folk who were involved as artists or just came along it was a good fun weekend.There were of course some problems as would be expected for a first event. The biggest of which seemed to be security. I saw people just walking in & I also walked in past security without getting my band checked. A lot of people who heard about this would have decided NOT to buy tickets this year & to chance their luck getting in.
Someone above mentioned the shady charachter ISH from Essential festival who is infamous for not paying people.Well I saw him hanging out at the festival with the organisers which gave me cause wonder if he was involved in the festival to some degree which gave me cause for concern.
snortus
says...
1:25am Fri 28 Aug 09
londonbythesea
says...
11:40am Fri 28 Aug 09
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/watchdog/gotastory/
we can see pidgeon, murphy et al on the tv answering questions
also dont forget to let trading standards know about this
if you live in brighton here are the llocal dtls
Brighton and Hove Council
Trading Standards Department
Bartholomew House
Bartholomew Square
Brighton
Sussex
BN1 1JP
t: 08454 040506 (Consumer Direct for consumer advice)
http://www.tradingst
andards.gov.uk/brigh
ton-hove/
Gerorfmoilaaand
says...
3:42pm Fri 28 Aug 09
hobo wrote:Do you know what? I couldn't give a rat's arse what you are ashamed of, and my knees are really knocking at the prospect of you inviting your riff-raff friends to Fulking, that'll 'learn' me, I'll bet! As for you standing by that Pidgeon fella.....It's alright everybody, don't worry about being burned by those crooks, Hobo stands by them.
you know what gerorfmoilaaand i'm ashamed to live anywhere near you. Brighton has wide variety of people because the people living there are not prejedice gits like yourself! Most of my friends live in brighton and i might invite some in our lovely villages! And as they live in brighton they MUST be one of the wonderfull types of people your described in one of your previous comments. I dont know if Joe is in the right or wrong but i will always stand by someone that offered a brilliant event for people in sussex and surrounding counties so thank you beachdown for last year it was fantastic i'm just so sorry you had to put up with pig ignorant people that think they now have one over on you, they don't, they just look like imature babies that have far to much time on their hands and simply have nothing else to do with there time !
It might have escaped your notice, but the likes of me do have one up on them, MSDC won't allow it to happen again, so you'll have to go to Brighton for your crusty entertainment, and leave the countryside to those of us who enjoy it for what it is. BTW, it looks to me like it's you who is crying like a big baby, because you can't go to your poxy festival, my heart is bleeding for you, honest!
David Panter
says...
7:40am Sun 30 Aug 09
Bobbo
says...
2:17pm Mon 31 Aug 09
1) Not eveyone in Sussex is this bitchy!
2) I think it's unfair to call ticket buyers 'mugs', as I was doing so in good faith.
3) 6000 ticket holders @ £100 each + however many stall holders paying £1,000 = suppliers and staff (wtf?) not being paid? It just DOESN'T ADD UP. Where has it all gone? Surely this is totally illegal. I contacted Grandmaster Flash's office on 26th and they already knew it had been cancelled.
4) I would urge everyone to contact Watchdog as at least they try to get answers.
... and finally.
5) I can't really see how a festival so close to Brighton could fail. With proper management, good client relations and a great line up, surely it would work. Who's with me? ;)
ray321
says...
10:58pm Mon 31 Aug 09
jooj
says...
2:45am Tue 1 Sep 09
Security word: double-bluff
jay316 says...
1:15am Wed 26 Aug 09