Splendour Festival could move venue as council set to issue tender document

The future of just where the Splendour Festival in Nottingham will be held is uncertain after Nottingham City Council confirmed that it was putting the running of a two-day music festival at Wollaton Park up for tender.

The council says the move is part of its new commercial strategy, but the decision has caused some confusion in the ranks of music promoter and festival organiser DHP Family, which says the tender cannot be for Splendour itself, as it owns the festival.

A spokesperson for DHP Family told TheBusinessDesk.com: “DHP Family has run Splendour successfully 13 times over 15 years. We understand the council, as owners of the Wollaton site, wanting to check that they are getting value for money for city residents from our deal. We are confident that’s what we offer already, and that’s what we can offer in the future.

“Whatever the outcome of this process, Nottingham’s live music lovers can rest assured that DHP will continue to run Splendour festival, with or without a partnership with the council, whether that’s at Wollaton Park or on another site.

“We have ambitious plans to make Splendour an even more popular and successful event. We started last year going to two days, expanding the range of acts we can bring to Nottingham to perform alongside the local talent that has always been an important part of our offer and Splendour’s appeal.

This year’s event, to be held at Wollaton Hall on 22-23, will be headlined by Madness and Noel Gallagher.

A city council spokesperson told us: “Splendour Festival has become an annual summer favourite for many in the city and beyond in the 15 years since it was first staged at Wollaton Park. During this time the city council has worked together with local concert promoters DHP Family to develop the festival.

“Under the council’s new commercial strategy, the festival falls into a category where a commercial tender is needed. The council will therefore advertise a concession agreement for the rights to stage an annual two-day music festival at Wollaton Park from 2024 onwards.

“The new contract would protect Wollaton Park, while supporting the future operator to ensure a high-profile, all ages music festival can continue to be staged in the city.”