Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Brockwell Park festival organisers confirm events will proceed this summer, despite a High Court ruling challenging Lambeth Council’s event licensing process.
For thousands of ticket buyers who were worried that summer events would be canceled, Brockwell Live has released a significant update.
Despite a legal challenge that resulted in a case against them, Brockwell Park festival organizers maintain the activities will still take place.
Insisting that a High Court decision only addressed “a particular point of law and whether an administrative process had been carried out correctly,” Brockwell Live, the organization that organizes festivals in the cherished Brixton park, including Mighty Hoopla and City Splash, confirmed that all of its events will proceed as scheduled.
In a statement on Monday, Brockwell Live said:
“We wish to make it clear that no event will be cancelled as a result of the High Court’s decision.
We take our stewardship of Brockwell Park seriously. As we prepare to deliver these much-loved, culturally significant events, we remain fully committed to its care, upkeep, and long-term wellbeing.
With setup nearly complete, we look forward to opening the gates and welcoming festival goers later this week.”
On Friday, the park’s initial activities are scheduled to start.
The Protect Brockwell Park group informed the Standard that it was obtaining legal counsel over its next course of action in the wake of Brockwell Live’s announcement.
In a statement the residents group said:
“It seems to us Brockwell Live are carrying on regardless, and Lambeth are allowing them to do that.
This is exactly what Lambeth has been repeatedly criticised for, by us and others (e.g. LTN judgement).”
They said this whole thing started because Lambeth refused to go through a planning process, do proper assessments and allow proper scrutiny, and instead issued legal certificates at the last minute to try to shut us out.
In a post on X, Mighty Hoopla’s account added:
“Mighty Hoopla can confirm that we will be going ahead as planned on Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June 2025.
We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Brockwell Park has been home to Mighty Hoopla since 2018, and we will continue to work with Brockwell Live to ensure its upkeep is maintained to the highest standard for 2025 and beyond.”
It said that they look forward to seeing you all next week for a weekend like no other.
Additionally, Brockwell Live affirmed that the Lambeth Country Show will proceed according to schedule. The free event, which has been hosted by Lambeth Council for 50 years, has also been co-produced by the festival organizers from 2023.
Lambeth Council’s exploitation of “permitted development” laws to let these events to occur, so avoiding the entire planning process, was the main focus of the legal challenge.
Campaigners claimed that the guidelines were misapplied in this instance and that Lambeth Council had behaved inappropriately by awarding a permit under them.
They insisted that the event series be beyond the legal limit because it lasts more than 28 days, including setup and de-rigging.
The court case, spearheaded by Protect Brockwell Park member Rebekah Shaman, had been challenged by Lambeth Council.
A Lambeth Council spokesperson said:
“Summer Events Limited has applied to Lambeth Council for a new certificate of lawfulness, for 24 days, following the High Court ruling last week on the previous certificate.
The council is urgently considering that application. That consideration does not stop the events proceeding.”
The Hon. Mr. Justice Mould decided in favor of Ms. Shaman during a High Court hearing one week prior to the start of the festivals, claiming that the council’s decision to issue a Lawful Development Certificate was “irrational.”
The festivities were momentarily put on hold when the judge ordered the current certificate to be revoked.
The “period between commencement and normal use of the park” was 37 days, according to Mr. Justice Mould, and as such, it was “incontrovertibly beyond scope” of planning development rights.
Following the decision, attorneys for Ms. Shaman and the Protect Brockwell Park group wrote to the council, requesting that it “confirm that the event has been cancelled, remove any infrastructure or fence, and declare that Brockwell Live lacked planning authorization.
Protect Brockwell Park stated before last week’s hearing that while they are “not anti-festival, we support well-run inclusive events,” the festivals do harm, notably to the trees and grassland.
Summer Events Limited’s and Lambeth Council’s attorneys requested permission from the judge to contest his ruling, but the request was denied.
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) had issued a warning after the decision that it would usher in “a dark new era” for live music.
Protect Brockwell Park stated before last week’s hearing that while they are “not anti-festival, we support well-run inclusive events,” the festivals do harm, notably to the trees and grassland.
Summer Events Limited’s and Lambeth Council’s attorneys requested permission from the judge to contest his ruling, but the request was denied.
The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) had issued a warning after the decision that it would usher in “a dark new era” for live music.
Responding to the decision, Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said:
“The legal action brought against Lambeth Council over the Brockwell Park festivals is emblematic of a much deeper crisis facing our cultural and events landscape.
If these festivals are unable to proceed, it would mark a devastating blow to London’s identity as a global hub for live music, culture, and community celebration — and would signal a dark new era for the UK’s events and festival sector.
This isn’t about protecting parks — it’s about stifling culture, and the consequences are far-reaching.”
Dunkirk actor Sir Mark Rylance and activists for Protect Brockwell Park praised the decision, calling it “wonderful news” and adding that “every small victory for nature makes a difference” in a statement released by the group.
Mighty Hoopla, which is well-known for its lively ambiance and close connections to the LGBT+ community, is one of the events held in Brockwell Park. With Ciara and Kesha as the main acts, the festival is set for May 31 and June 1 in 2025.
Irish rap group Kneecap will play on Friday at Wide Awake, one of Brockwell Live’s six festivals.
What are the main arguments from both sides in the High court case in Lambeth?
The organizers contend that the High Court’s decision pertains to a procedural or administrative matter involving planning approval, particularly the length of time the park is utilized for events beyond the allowed 28 days.
They insist that the summer activities will go on as planned and that the decision does not forbid the festivals from taking place.
The organizers stress their dedication to Brockwell Park’s maintenance and long-term health, and they argue that they have applied for the required licenses or permits to normalize the situation.
The Lambeth council accepts the court’s conclusion that Brockwell Park was used for activities for more days than allowed without the required planning authority.