two simultaneous Cornbury music festivals for 2011?

The dispute over Cornbury Music Festival between Cornbury Park owner Lord Rotherwick, and the festival's founder Hugh Phillimore could result in two music festivals taking place within ten miles of each other on the same weekend next year.

Cornbury Festival was created in 2004 and grew to a 20,000 capacity event traditionally held over the first weekend in July. Affectionately nicknamed 'Poshstock' for its beautiful VIP facilities and upmarket audience over the years the audience has included David Cameron, Jeremy Clarkson, and even a royalty. Now due to two new deals, one by the landowner and one by the festival founder, the festival has separated into two events.

As previously announced the Cornbury Festival brand has been acquired by independent concert promoter 3a Entertainment who will be working in partnership with founder Hugh Phillimore, who remains the 'face' of Cornbury and the creative director.

Phillimore has already confirmed that he will take the brand name 'Cornbury Festival' with him and stage his new event within ten miles of the festival's previous home next year. He has also confirmed that his event will take place on the festival's usual date of the first weekend in July. The exact location of his 2011 festival will not be confirmed until December when tickets go on sale. He has said, "There are several stately homes near Charlbury — Ditchley, Eynsham, Blenheim — but I am not saying yet where the festival will be held."

Cornbury House's owner, Lord Rotherwick, who has struck a deal with MAMA Group to host events on his charlbury estate revealed in an interview with the Oxford Times, (here) that their new event is also scheduled for the first weekend in July, saying "I have signed an agreement with the MAMA Group, recently bought up by HMV for £46m, and we shall stage a festival here in the first two weeks of July next year."

So it currently looks as though next year will see two music festivals taking place within ten miles of each other on the same weekend next year. Lord Rotherwick also reveals that the proposed name for the MAMA Group's event held in the deer park of his stately home will be The Wilderness at Cornbury.

He adds "It may be on the same days as Hugh Phillimore's. I know nothing of his intentions. The festival at Cornbury Park will have more variety than previously — more layers and more food."

Phillimore meanwhile has also confirmed that his festival will remain a 20,000 capacity event, adding, "I'm delighted with our new site, it gives us everything we need and will allow us to make the festival even better."

"I'm very excited to be working with 3a" says Hugh. "I've found the perfect partner who thinks like us and is independently minded. They'll bring to the festival all the things we're missing and they have the integrity to leave us to get on with it, so the unique nature of the festival won't change."

On the split between landowner and founder, Phillimore said, "Cash flow is difficult and I asked Lord Rotherwick for a small extension to keep it going, but he said no. It is sad but there is no bitterness."

When asked if the matter was likely to go to court, Phillomore added, "We are both too sensible for that."

So, at present it looks as though two family-friendly music festivals will take place over three days in 2011 from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July 2011 within ten miles of each other near Charlbury in Oxfordshire.

Latest Updates