With over 500 music festivals in the UK every year, the event industry is outdoors for a very good reason. We covered the pros and cons of outdoor events and in this post we will be looking out how to find the perfect outdoor venue for your event. We will even link to some outdoor venues we think would make a great place for a music festival.

Parking & Public Transport Links

A big thing with festivals and outdoor events is transport links. How is your audience going to get to your event and what do you need to put in place to facilitate this. Check with the venue what access for vehicles is like and what public transport links do they have. Nearest train station, bus station, anywhere for bikes or motor vehicles. You may need a whole additional field for car parking so this will need to be a consideration when choosing your venue.

Licensing

If you don’t want the hassle of having to sort out your own licence for your event you will need to select a venue that already has a premises licence in place. Many places do but this will come at an extra cost and most venues with a premise licence will charge more than those who don’t. Although a one-off licence isn’t overly costly, depending on attendance numbers and location, it can be an added stress having to organise it. Weigh up the pros and cons of this to decide what option is better for you and your event.

Restrictions

Whether you are getting the licence yourself or if the venue already has one, you will need to check any restriction put in place by the licencing committee. This can include noise levels and event timings amongst other things. Check these to make sure they align with your event idea.

Atmosphere & Accessibility

This is less tangible but will make a whole load of difference to your event. Finding a venue that has the right atmosphere for your event will matter, for example organising a rave in front of a stately home versus organising it in a clearing in the forest will completely change the feel of the event. Have a think about the vibe you’re looking for and what type of venue would match up well with it.



Equally important is the accessibility of the site. What is the surface like? How far is the journey from the car park to the event site? Can it be adapted to be more accessible for all your guests?

Layout

Most outdoor venues are a blank canvas, the space fully flexible to accommodate your event, but when looking for a venue, remember to think about the logistics. Where are your guest going to park? How will they get from the car park to the event? Walkways, paths, access points? Don’t forget to look at emergency vehicle access which should be different to the pedestrian entrance. Egress points and emergency evacuation plans. 

 From an aesthetic point of view, what will your guests see when they first arrive? Which way can the stage or main activities point for maximum effect?

Cost

Finally, but definitely not lastly, think about your budget. Outdoor venues can vary in cost substantially. From a few thousands to tens of thousands, it’s important to know what your budget is and what you can afford. If you need help budgeting you can check out our blog How to budget for an outdoor event (link).

Here are some venues that we think are great for a large scale outdoor event in the local area:

Shuttleworth – This venue is stunning with the old manor house situated in huge parkland. The grounds are flexible and different areas available depending on the size and nature of your event. We’ve worked on a couple of events here and the team at Shuttleworth are great.

Herts Show Ground – A dedicated event venue that has great flexibility and access links. Home to the Herts show and other national events, it’s a great space to hire for your outdoor event.

Cainhoe Manor – A slightly small family run venue who offer great flexibility. The house at the centre of the grounds is beautiful and it makes a great wedding venue too.

Hitchin Priory – In the centre of Hitchin this venue has great access for public transport and the monastery as a backdrop to the parkland behind. 

Oaklands College – Not your typical outdoor venue but a great space that can be used for most events. We’ve worked on the Foodies event here for the last few years and it’s a great outdoor space that is well kept.