Decision on Margate Main Sands music festival is postponed

Margate Main Sands

A decision on a licensing application for a two-day music festival – with a 20ft bar – on Margate Main Sands this Summer has been adjourned.

The application is for the bank holiday from August 25-27 although it states the event timings as just the Saturday and Sunday (August 25-26) from noon to 9pm each day.

Events company Happy Days Parties want to use the area of the beach opposite Dreamland which will be fenced off and contain a stage for live music and dance performances. There will also be recorded music.

Kent Police has not objected to the application for the 0ver-18s event but says there are conditions that would need to be put in place – including an age limit of 25 and over.

The response from Chief Inspector Sharon Adley says: “I have to note that the bar is 20 metres longs which is a significant size to say the least.

“Such a large bar would need security on its own rather than the entry/exit marshalls.

Conditions would include no glass bottles, toughened glass/plastic containers for alcohol, at least 4 door supervisors with 2 being female, a Challenge 25 scheme in operation, a lockable drugs box to be on the site and the use of CCTV. The list of conditions also say those under 25 not to be allowed on the premises.

Thanet councillors on the licensing committee today (May 22) were due to make a decision but it has now been postponed. New documents submitted by the applicant reveal a change to plans, relocating from the original plot of 2,300 square metres of beach opposite Dreamland to a request to fence off 6,000 square metres of sand at the boating pool.

This would prevent pedestrian beach access from Nayland Rock to the Main Sands over a four day period. A new hearing date is yet to be set.

A Thanet council spokesman said: “As the latest updated papers were not submitted in advance, the licensing sub-committee decided to adjourn the meeting.

​”This is so the police and sub-committee have​ reasonable time to consider the latest papers.”

Ward councillor Iris Johnston said: “I spoke to applicants afterwards and suggested that as the Bank Holiday weekend was already busy had they thought of having it just outside the season, maybe September.”

3 Comments

  1. It’s a busy beach on August Bank holiday’s and a bar serving alcohol is not really the sort of attraction needed. Lifeguards are working hard and do not need the added pressures of drunkenness, especially in the water taking them away from the usual incidents.
    The beach has become hazardous from these parties in previous years with huge amounts of waste left behind scattered all over and cars parked all along the pavements obstructing pedestrians. Loud music causing a nuisance for beach goers has also been a significant complaint too.

  2. I echo the sentiments of “Kent Resident”.

    Additionally, the organisers now want to relocate from the original plot of 2,300 square metres of beach opposite Dreamland and want to fence off over 6,000 square metres of sand at the boating pool which would prevent pedestrian beach access from Nayland Rock to the Main Sands over a four day period !

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