Christopher BarrettS&C Productions MD William Young has told Access that the company’s The Cambridge Club Festival will have an extended capacity of 15,000 this year, up from 10,000.
In line with growing the event’s capacity, the promoters will provide expanded camping facilities and there will be parking on-site for the first time. Young said the apple orchard, currently the centrepiece of the site, will also be extended to provide more space around the event’s three main stages.
Said Young, “This year was the first time we offered a full range of camping options, including glamping. We had room for 2,000 and it sold out. So this year, we’ve doubled the size of the operation and invested a load more into the after dark entertainment line-up.”
He said the significant increase in the event’s overall attendee capacity is in response to strong demand for this year’s event, and that the growth and investment in the 2023 event is being carefully managed: “The budgets are being built cautiously. We have had a great start, the general on-sale started on Friday and sales have gone brilliantly.”
Other changes to the festival this year will be the introduction of new VIP area The Paddock, and food court Food for Thought. Young said the event will also see an expanded children’s area and an extended comedy programme running throughout the event.
The 9-11 June festival, which takes place at Childerley Orchard on the outskirts of Cambridge, will feature a line-up including Grace Jones, Lionel Richie and Kool & The Gang.
Sony Music Masterworks-owned, London-based, promoter Senbla acquired both The Cambridge Club and Strawberries & Creem festival in October 2020. Founded by Ollie Rosenblatt, Senbla is a London-based concert promoting and production company. The management team at festival founders S&C Productions, including Young and head of partnerships Chris Jammer, have continued to work on the events.
Young said that S&C has been sitting on plans to launch new events for some time and the aim is to bring them to market in 2024: “I don’t think next year is the right year, as it’s going to be a difficult over the next year, but from 2024 onwards we’ll be looking at launching new events.”