Boomtown retains licence in official review following festivalgoer’s death and local complaints

Boomtown will retain its licence following an official review into the festival in the wake of the death of one attendee and a string of complaints from neighbours. 

The annual music festival, which began in 2009 and has been held at its current home at the Matterley Estate in Winchester since 2011, was called before a licensing committee hearing on Thursday 30th January. This came after Hampshire police lodged an official complaint late last year, calling for a review of the festival’s licence after a 22-year-old man lost his life during the 2024 edition due to a “medical incident“.

While this complaint was ultimately withdrawn ahead of the hearing, a sub-committee still heard a range of concerns from 17 nearby residents, who claimed the event has had a negative impact on them and local wildlife. Among other things, they cited lack of sleep, late-night noise, damage to ecosystems, and traffic congestion in their complaints. 

Boomtown’s organisers are currently working with authorities to overcome concerns relating to this summer’s instalment. As such, Winchester City Council has decided not to change the license for alcohol and music at the annual gathering, which will this year increase its capacity from 65,999 to 76,999 attendees.

In one complaint, local man Terence Jones suggested that a significant portion of the festival’s site provides a vital home for nesting birds, and that annual the mowing of the land to accommodate for camping and parking has effectively destroyed their habitat. However, as the Hampshire Chronicle reports, when probed, Mr Jones said that he had not seen any evidence to corroborate his complaint.

Elsewhere, Alison Mathews voiced objections to the festival’s running times, calling for a midnight music curfew rather than the existing 4AM one on Friday and Saturday. No complaints were upheld.

In a statement shared with The Hampshire Chronicle, Chris Rutherford, one of Boomtown’s directors, said: “We are happy. It was the outcome that we anticipated.”

Boomtown recently announced the line-up for its 2025 edition, which will run 6th – 10th August. Headliners include Overmono, Maribou State, Sex Pistols ft. Frank Carter, James Hype, Honey Dijon, Nia Archives, 4AM Kru, Boney M, Koffee, Anfisa Letyago, The Blessed Madonna, Jayda G and The Wailers.

The fourth “chapter” in the festival’s current iteration, this year’s theme is ‘Power of Now’. Last year, a community of people known as the Council of Bens, who first formed at Boomtown 2023, organised a pop-up rave at the summit of Ben Nevis, Britain’s largest mountain, in aid of mental health charity Mind. 

DJ Mag has contacted Boomtown for further comment on this story.