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Original poster

Sunday night Reading festival nightmare - do they even care?

354 replies

itsallabittiring · 31/08/2021 19:20

I wanted to ask about the experience people had on Sunday night in the campsites. My daughter, who is 18 and fairly streetwise, said it was absolutely terrifying as people were going round blowing tents up using aerosols. There was also a massive fight right next to them and then a stampede of people trampled over her tent. They seriously feared for their lives. Until then they had had quite a good time, although some men camping nearby had been threatening on and off so they felt a bit unsafe at times.
Security guards were next to useless apparently and a few of them were apparently clearly on drugs and were asking people for 'Ket'.
It literally sounded like the most unsafe place you could probably think of - they had to take it in turns to stay up and not sleep to try and stop themselves getting blown up. She said it felt so out of control and everyone was drugged up and didn't care.
I would seriously think twice if you think your 16- 18 year old could cope with that. I know my daughter and her friends will never, ever go back. I think it is pretty appalling how scenes like that are allowed to happen. If your teen does insist on going maybe ensure they aren't there for Sunday night which is when it all really kicks off in a nasty way.

OP posts:
ZoyaTheDestroyer · 31/08/2021 20:52

I’m afraid Sunday night at Reading has been notorious since I went in ‘99 and 2000. A festival veteran had warned us not to use the loos on Sunday night as they would be tipped over with people inside. No fire though.

TeachesOfPeaches · 31/08/2021 20:52

There were tons of videos on TikTok of 16 year olds leaving early as they couldn't hack the bad vibe, horrific toilets, shit food etc. Think they thought it was going to be like Coachella via Instagram.

I had some of my stuff set on fire in 2002 but had fun!

Thewiseoneincognito · 31/08/2021 20:53

Go to a rough festival, get rough behaviour.

DiscoDown21 · 31/08/2021 20:53

@ohfook

I used to go to Reading or Leeds in the early 00s and it was a thing at both festivals then. I'm afraid of fire anyway so I used to find it terrifying and I know a lot of people used to leave after the last band on the Sunday night.

If it's as bad as it used to be it really is a miracle someone hasn't been seriously injured in their tent.

Yeah we used to leave after the last band.

I went to isle of white in the late 00s and start of the next decade and never saw anything like the idiots doing criminal damage etc. But like I said previously I was in the paid for camping areas.

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 31/08/2021 20:54

Reading has always been like this on the Sunday night but I think it’s been even worse in the last decade or so as it’s turned into a post A-levels party and the attendees are almost all kids. In my day () there was a much better mix as it was a rock festival back then. 100,000 kids off the leash for the first time with unlimited alcohol and drugs is always a recipe for disaster.

The good news is that there’s lots of other festivals that are much nicer - I love festivals and the vast majority are happy lovely places. Maybe your daughter could have a look for some non-teen specific ones? Beautiful Days is one of my favourites and I heard Secret Garden Party is starting up again next year.

Horehound · 31/08/2021 20:54

Yes this happens at download too. O remember a huge fire people were jumping through, toppling over the temporary style street lighting etc (just why?!)
One girl got hit in the face by a flying metal sign. I remember seeing it go into her cheek whilst there was a huge crowd of folk and she was trying to see who had done it whilst also in shock. I was too far away to do anything about it and still think about her

We had people having sex with their zipped part down like right in front of us, so a full sex show for us. They also stole my box of wine when id gone off to see a band.
Someone else randomly threw a tin of baked beans with landed on by boyfriends brother

Someone took a shit right beside our tent. Like, with us all there.

People are really, really horrible.

CremeEggThief · 31/08/2021 20:54

Yep, DS confirmed tents were set on fire at Leeds on Sunday night too. I'm glad he's nearly 19 for his first festival, not 15 or 16. DS also said he saw a big group of 11 or 12 year olds together in there, clearly off their heads and gurning.

PattyPan · 31/08/2021 20:55

Reading is always like this. I’ve worked as a steward at quite a few festivals but always refused to do Reading even though I live here because it’s rowdy.
All festivals that I have worked at have fire towers though, I’ve been up them many times myself. Cold on the night shift!

User56439876 · 31/08/2021 20:55

DS liked Glastonbury best, said it was laid back and relaxing, he used to work at most of them, Leeds was a bit rough and lots of very young people. He will still go to Glastonbury when it's next on.

TabithaTiger · 31/08/2021 20:56

@GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin

Reading has always been like this on the Sunday night but I think it’s been even worse in the last decade or so as it’s turned into a post A-levels party and the attendees are almost all kids. In my day () there was a much better mix as it was a rock festival back then. 100,000 kids off the leash for the first time with unlimited alcohol and drugs is always a recipe for disaster.

The good news is that there’s lots of other festivals that are much nicer - I love festivals and the vast majority are happy lovely places. Maybe your daughter could have a look for some non-teen specific ones? Beautiful Days is one of my favourites and I heard Secret Garden Party is starting up again next year.

I think the problem is it's more post GCSEs nowadays than post A levels. Crowds of 16 year olds away from parents for the first time, drink, drugs, things get out of hand quickly.

I can't understand why Reading still permits bonfires. They're banned at most other festivals nowadays.

ratspeaker · 31/08/2021 20:57

mind you there were some really nice people, some found a lost phone , called me as last number dialled and I directed them to the van where DD was very relived to get it back. ( I was on the boat to the arena , they did boats down the river in those days )

Hugoslavia · 31/08/2021 20:59

My friends told me this about Reading festival 20+ years ago. Exactly the same was happening then. Along with people throwing shit at each others tents. It's the one festival that I would never want my kids to go to. It sounds awful.

OnTheBoardwalk · 31/08/2021 20:59

It’s not a new thing Sunday night has always been dickhead night at most festivals

I remember being at Leeds when the riot was going on and my mother ringing me on the one of only two mobile phones we all had with us because she was watching the riot on sky news and was worried

All I can say is make them promise to all stay together, they won’t get much sleep

At least they’ve banned fires which was a terrifying thing back in my day

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 31/08/2021 20:59

I can't understand why Reading still permits bonfires. They're banned at most other festivals nowadays.

I’ve seen stewards use extinguishers to put them out but it’s a perpetual game of whack-a-mole and by the time Sunday night rolls round they haven’t got a chance. I’ve known of a steward get hit in the face with an exploding aerosol can, so there comes a point where they have to pretext themselves because it just goes feral. I wouldn’t be at Reading festival on Sunday night for any money!

TatianaBis · 31/08/2021 20:59

Not sure 18 counts as young teen

It doesn't, I'm talking younger.

There are many parents who wave their kids off to festivals and I'm thinking - do you really know what goes on? They're so naive. A friend of mine was happy for her 16 year old DD to go to Reading this year - a friend of ours was raped at a festival when we were young and it really messed her up. Does she really think things have changed? If anything I think it's got worse.

Namechange600 · 31/08/2021 21:00

Went to Reading 98 and remember the toppled portaloos by the end and the slightly menacing vibe. No violence or fires though. Preferred Glastonbury to reading.

ReeseWitherfork · 31/08/2021 21:01

I can't understand why Reading still permits bonfires. I feel confident they are banned.

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2021 21:02

A few of them were, apparently, on drugs?

Wow. Guessing you weren’t a festival goer in your time?

Sorry, but what did you/she expect?

I would advise any youngster who is easily shocked/anxious/gentle, etc. to stay well clear.

Haggisfish3 · 31/08/2021 21:02

I’m sorry to hear this op but thank you for posting-I wasn’t aware of this at all, despite being to lots of festivals myself.

TabithaTiger · 31/08/2021 21:02

@ReeseWitherfork

I can't understand why Reading still permits bonfires. I feel confident they are banned.
Nope. They're still permitted. There's rules about not bringing your own firewood and about the size of the fire, but campfires are still allowed.
MolyHolyGuacamole · 31/08/2021 21:04

@PaulGallico

Really sorry your daughter had such a difficult time at the festival. My son and his friends (mixed group) had a great time and felt quite safe. I realise this does not address your OP but wanted to offer a different point of view.
Why?
TabithaTiger · 31/08/2021 21:05

@MrsSkylerWhite

A few of them were, apparently, on drugs?

Wow. Guessing you weren’t a festival goer in your time?

Sorry, but what did you/she expect?

I would advise any youngster who is easily shocked/anxious/gentle, etc. to stay well clear.

I think the OP meant some of the security staff were on drugs.
HairyFloppins · 31/08/2021 21:05

My 19 year old just came back from Leeds and it was the same on the Sunday night, there was tents on fire right near to her tent.

Not for the faint hearted.

HailAdrian · 31/08/2021 21:06

Awful. Absolute bastards ruining what should be an awesome experience. Your poor DD.

tearsforfears72 · 31/08/2021 21:07

Unfortunately Reading and Leeds have a reputation for this sort of thing. Definitely doesn’t make it ok though! Dd1 went to Latitude festival, camped for the full four days and had a great time. Would definitely recommend this festival as a safe alternative for teens.