Festival agrees to remain at regatta site

THE Henley Festival is to remain in the town for at least the next five years.

Organisers have agreed a new deal to remain on the Henley Royal Regatta site.

It comes 10 years after they agreed a deal that came after the festival had proposed to move out of the town.

This year’s festival — the 42nd — will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, July 10 to 14 with singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger due to perform on the “floating” stage on the opening night.

Sue Laing, who chairs the festival, is “thrilled” that the event will stay by the riverside in Henley until at least 2030.

She said: “It marks our commitment to the festival’s future as well as to the growth of our charitable programme RISE, which is at the heart of everything we do.

“We couldn’t be prouder of our home in Henley and are very excited to welcome festival-goers to our stunning riverside in July to see headline acts including Gladys Knight with her final ever show and to be part of something truly amazing.”

Sir Steve Redgrave, who chairs the regatta’s committee of management, said the two events were a highlight of the summer season for residents and visitors. He said: “We are so excited to have at least another five years linking the regatta and the festival together.

“We all know that the local community and further afield love both events, Henley Royal Regatta being the largest rowing event in the world and the festival showcasing some amazing acts and entertainment, bringing the local community together in a fantastic celebration.”

In 2013, the festival announced it was moving to the Henley Business School at Greenlands in Marlow Road, on the opposite bank of the Thames and two miles out of Henley. Organisers signed a 15-year lease with the school, which is part of the University of Reading.

At the time they said the time was right to find new premises which they could make their own rather than having to customise the tents and marquees used for the regatta in the previous week. But five months later, the deal was cancelled after critics attacked the move, saying it would not feel like the same event and that people wouldn’t be able to walk to it anymore.

The festival and the regatta were both shocked by the force of the backlash and the latter offered to negotiate a new deal.

This year’s festival has a programme of music, comedy and art. The other headliners are Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics Songbook, Trevor Nelson, Rylan, Nigel Kennedy and Sam Ryder.

The festival is a charitable trust and its charity programme helps young people find a career in the performance industry, both on stage and behind the scenes.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.henley-festival.co.uk