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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:
Brighterblighter · 31/08/2021 21:47

Dreadful and gangs from the schools going around trying to attack people apparently

stilldumdedumming · 31/08/2021 21:48

@GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin I bloody love secret garden party. And yes I'd heard that it was coming back too. Loads of drugs but the whole vibe is one of looking after each other. Freddy (the owner) says that's why he started it.

bettyfloormop · 31/08/2021 21:48

Sorry haven't RTFT but when I went to Reading (my very first festival aged 18 in 1991), it was on two sites as I recall..one in the Midlands and one in Essex?

Am I remembering that correctly?

I did see Nirvana pre-Nevermind in 1991 which was amazing.

Littlegemlettuce · 31/08/2021 21:49

I’m 😱 at this.

Been to a few heavy metal festivals in my younger years and seen not one iota of anything resembling anything I’ve read here.

Never once felt unsafe.

ArabellaScott · 31/08/2021 21:50

Reading had a reputation for being dangerous when I was a teenager - about fifty thousand years ago!

Bandol · 31/08/2021 21:51

I went to Reading in 1997 (headline acts Manic Street Preachers, Suede and Metallica headlined) and fortunately we (two girls) ended up camped miles away from the arena next to a group of seasoned festival regulars who took us under their wing.

At that time the worst thing we were warned about was the portaloos being pushed over with people inside so completely avoided using them Sunday evening. I think we left early on Monday morning because it was raining and didn’t want to get stuck in the mud! I had no idea how bad it’s become since then.

TabithaTiger · 31/08/2021 21:51

@bettyfloormop

Sorry haven't RTFT but when I went to Reading (my very first festival aged 18 in 1991), it was on two sites as I recall..one in the Midlands and one in Essex?

Am I remembering that correctly?

I did see Nirvana pre-Nevermind in 1991 which was amazing.

I think you mean V ?
TeachesOfPeaches · 31/08/2021 21:51

They do have a glamping option now at Reading with instagramable Teepees and access to clean toilets, showers, hair dryers and straighteners etc. For the small cost of £1500 Shock presume the tickets are extra

Benjispruce5 · 31/08/2021 21:52

DD went a couple of years ago aged 18. She got an early bird ticket and wanted to come home. We were on holiday in Devon and it got as far as checking train links so she could join us but she decided to try to stick it out and it did improve. She was overwhelmed to start with as she was with a big group but others were so close, taking all sorts and having noisy sex within inches of where she was sleeping as tents so close. It was a heatwave so they had to queue for hrs for water. She was quite dehydrated when she got home.

Benjispruce5 · 31/08/2021 21:53

I hear lots have come back with Covid in my area.

Runforthehillocks · 31/08/2021 21:54

I am very old and was at the 1988 Monsters of Rock in Donnington Park. Two people were killed when the crowd rushed forward when Guns n Roses came on. Awful. But not intentionally violent. There was nothing like what is being described here.

Brighterblighter · 31/08/2021 21:55

Awful, people must get maimed at these things.. Dreadful

JudyGemstone · 31/08/2021 21:55

My 17 year old son went with a load of friends, they had a great time, said everyone was friendly and helpful. They were in yellow camp and mentioned seeing the aerosol fires but weren’t remotely perturbed by it as it wasn’t causing harm or damage to anyone else.

I think it’s been made out to be worse than it actually was.

To whichever sad twat called me a shoddy parent for allowing my son to go, up yours grandma 🖕🏼

Brighterblighter · 31/08/2021 21:56

Omg! That would be my worst nightmare.

Portaloos pushed over with me in it...

BoredZelda · 31/08/2021 21:58

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.

See, comments like this are ridiculous. Making out the teens of today are just lightweights and can’t “do” festivals. But from the stories here, I don’t blame any teen for walking away, in fact I’d be more concerned for the ones who didn’t.

Many saying this is notorious, but it isn’t something that is well publicised at all. I’m not a festival go-er because it isn’t my scene. Before I had read this, I might have been happy for DD to go to a festival with her friends when she reaches 16/17. No chance I would let her go now.

User56439876 · 31/08/2021 22:00

Some of these hooligans have got to be the DC of Mumsnetters

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 31/08/2021 22:01

You don’t think they’re trained security, do you?

Reading security have always had a violent streak IME, so drug use wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve never trusted them.

notacooldad · 31/08/2021 22:02

My son's girlfriend was there with her mates. The group are between 18 and 20. I've just been talking to then this eveing and they had a different experience. They said they felt safe and no issues.
I'm sorry your dd had a bad time and didn't have a great experience. Most of all I glad she got home safe.

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 31/08/2021 22:02

(Security, not the drugs…)

Benjispruce5 · 31/08/2021 22:02

I’d suggest a day ticket to see if it’s for you after my DD’s experience .

TeachesOfPeaches · 31/08/2021 22:05

@BoredZelda

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.

See, comments like this are ridiculous. Making out the teens of today are just lightweights and can’t “do” festivals. But from the stories here, I don’t blame any teen for walking away, in fact I’d be more concerned for the ones who didn’t.

Many saying this is notorious, but it isn’t something that is well publicised at all. I’m not a festival go-er because it isn’t my scene. Before I had read this, I might have been happy for DD to go to a festival with her friends when she reaches 16/17. No chance I would let her go now.

It's been the same for 20 years!

It wasn't even raining this time so they got off lightly.

annacondom · 31/08/2021 22:07

Please note that not all festivals are like this! Valleyfest and Beautiful Days, for example, both family festivals, are lovely and very civilised.

JudyGemstone · 31/08/2021 22:08

I last went to Reading in 96 at the same age as he is now, doesn’t sound too dissimilar in many ways - the music was much better then though!

My partners in a band that plays at lots of festivals so we go to a lot, Glastonbury was always the best but it’s not what it used to beZ Boomtown is fab and I’ll suggest that to my son for next year, they have an 18+ age limit sensibly. Secret Garden Party is ok, bit bougie for me though.

Famousinlove · 31/08/2021 22:10

@Littlegemlettuce

I’m 😱 at this.

Been to a few heavy metal festivals in my younger years and seen not one iota of anything resembling anything I’ve read here.

Never once felt unsafe.

Same here, i went to leeds in 2009 and 2011 and didn't although we heard the rumour of tents going to be set on fire on the Sunday night, i didn't see that happen to a single one. Both times we were camping with a lot of friends from our town so maybe that made it a lot safer?
TeardropImplodes · 31/08/2021 22:11

@Runforthehillocks the deaths at Donnington shock everyone up. There was a lot of publicity at the time. I think mosh pits became more 'responsible' , security got shaken up, you could no longer get crushed right up against the stage. The wider spread of ages helps police these things and it's all about the music.

It's shocking that the under reported rape at festivals along with life changing injuries aren't given even close to the same amount of reflection and corporate change.

Download, the bastard grandchild of Monsters of Rock, had one of the experimental big Covid events, apparently it was absolutely brilliant and had less Covid cases then the horse racing and football despite having onsite camping.

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