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The Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Festival season: How to keep costs down this summer at Brockwell, Glastonbury and more
As people continue to look for ways to save money, festival season can make what should be an exciting time somewhat daunting. Over a third of festival-goers have had to dip into their savings to pay for tickets this year, new data has revealed, as costs for both luxuries and essentials continues to rise. According to exclusive data shared with PA from Credit Karma, which was taken from an Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults this month, 35 per cent of those attending festivals have used savings to pay for tickets. Akansha Nath, general manager at smart money platform Credit Karma, says that festivals can be expensive for a number of reasons, including the price of tickets. Credit Karma's research also found that 61 per cent of festival-goers say that increasing ticket prices have gone too far. Expenses such as transport, food and drink, and outfits are also mounting up, with 76 per cent of people saying these costs are all increasing. Nath added: "There are also social factors too, as people are keen to avoid 'FOMO' – fear of missing out. Three in 10 festival-goers feel pressure to attend festivals purely because their friends are going – particularly Gen Zs." Founder of ticket resale platform Twickets, Richard Davies adds that festivals have 'become big businesses' and costs behind the scenes reflect that. 'From artist fees and production to infrastructure, security and licensing – everything is now more expensive,' he says. 'Luckily there are festivals for all types of budgets, so fans can choose a one-day event or a festival that's four days with accommodation, depending on how much they want to spend.' Davies and Nath both share a number of ways that festival-goers can cut back on expenses as festival season approaches: 'Volunteering at festivals is a great way to get your ticket for free, in exchange for working a few shifts,' Nath says. 'Sites like My Cause UK and Oxfam can help you find available volunteer opportunities.' 'You can also sometimes get free meals and camping upgrades from volunteering,' Davies adds. 'Therefore, it's worth asking the organisers what the options are.' Buy and resell tickets Davies says that buying or reselling tickets can also help. 'If you missed out on the original sale for your favourite festival, set up alerts on the Twickets app to be notified as soon as any resale tickets become available,' he says. 'You can also bargain with the seller if the ticket is labelled 'accepting offers', to secure a fair price.' Pay in instalments 'Another way to cut costs is by using instalment-based payment schemes or credit that can split the cost of tickets across several months – whether that's using credit cards, Buy Now, Pay Later credit, or the festival's own payment instalment service,' Nath says. 'However, remember not to overcommit or take on more debt than you can afford to pay back.' Shop in charity shops 'Shopping in charity shops and from second-hand sites like Vinted is a great way to get festival outfits on a budget, and you can also take advantage of these to sell your outfit after the occasion,' Nath adds. Go prepared 'People should also ensure they are prepared – festival food and drink is notoriously expensive so pack a cooler box full of long-life food to keep you full throughout the weekend,' she says. 'Coffee vans will often give out free hot water if you need to mix it into your porridge or instant noodles.' Charge for free Davies adds that you can charge your devices for free, by bringing a pre-charged power bank or a solar-powered charger to the festival. When your phone runs out of battery, often the only option is to use phone charging stalls at festivals which can eat into your budget. Bringing your own charging bank saves money and some festivals even offer free eco-charging points if you bring your own lead.' Prioritise main events 'To make the most of your money and to avoid 'festival regret', prioritise events you will get the most out of, rather than giving in to pressure from friends. Many festivals offer single-day tickets so you can choose to just attend the day your favourite artists are on for a reduced cost.' 'Its always worth downloading the festival app when you arrive as some events offer discounts or freebies, surprise giveaways or share food stall deals,' Davies says. 'Keep your notifications on and check daily for the chance to save money. The festival's official app should also have useful resources like maps and timetables, to ensure you can plan your day and not miss out on the artists you really want to see.' 'With preparation and planning, there's no reason your festival fun should be limited this summer,' Nath says. 'Just remember to prioritise the events you most want to go to, set a careful budget and don't commit to more than you can afford.'
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
How to keep costs down at a festival
Festivals can be an expensive day out for people, and with the current economy and people trying to cut back, finding ways to save money is important. Exclusive data shared with PA from Credit Karma, taken from an Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults this month, found more than a third (35%) of festival-goers have dipped into their savings to pay for tickets this year. Why are festivals expensive? General manager at smart money platform Credit Karma, Akansha Nath, says that festivals can be expensive due to a number of reasons – including the price of tickets. Credit Karma's new research shows that three in five (61%) festival-goers say that increasing ticket prices have gone too far. Festival-related expenses like transport, food and drink, and outfits are also mounting up, with three-quarters (76%) of people saying these costs are all increasing. 'There are also social factors too, as people are keen to avoid 'FOMO' – fear of missing out,' Nath says. 'Three in 10 festival-goers feel pressure to attend festivals purely because their friends are going – particularly Gen Zs.' Founder of ticket resale platform Twickets, Richard Davies adds that festivals have 'become big businesses' and costs behind the scenes reflect that. 'From artist fees and production to infrastructure, security and licensing – everything is now more expensive,' he says. 'Luckily there are festivals for all types of budgets, so fans can choose a one-day event or a festival that's four days with accommodation, depending on how much they want to spend.' Davies and Nath both share a number of ways that festival-goers can cut back on expenses as festival season approaches. Volunteer 'Volunteering at festivals is a great way to get your ticket for free, in exchange for working a few shifts,' Nath says. 'Sites like My Cause UK and Oxfam can help you find available volunteer opportunities.' 'You can also sometimes get free meals and camping upgrades from volunteering,' Davies adds. 'Therefore, it's worth asking the organisers what the options are.' Buy and resell tickets Davies says that buying or reselling tickets can also help. 'If you missed out on the original sale for your favourite festival, set up alerts on the Twickets app to be notified as soon as any resale tickets become available,' he says. 'You can also bargain with the seller if the ticket is labelled 'accepting offers', to secure a fair price.' Pay in instalments 'Another way to cut costs is by using instalment-based payment schemes or credit that can split the cost of tickets across several months – whether that's using credit cards, Buy Now, Pay Later credit, or the festival's own payment instalment service,' Nath says. 'However, remember not to overcommit or take on more debt than you can afford to pay back.' Shop in charity shops 'Shopping in charity shops and from second-hand sites like Vinted is a great way to get festival outfits on a budget, and you can also take advantage of these to sell your outfit after the occasion,' Nath adds. Go prepared ' People should also ensure they are prepared – festival food and drink is notoriously expensive so pack a cooler box full of long-life food to keep you full throughout the weekend,' she says. 'Coffee vans will often give out free hot water if you need to mix it into your porridge or instant noodles.' Charge for free Davies adds that you can charge your devices for free, by bringing a pre-charged power bank or a solar-powered charger to the festival. When your phone runs out of battery, often the only option is to use phone charging stalls at festivals which can eat into your budget. Bringing your own charging bank saves money and some festivals even offer free eco-charging points if you bring your own lead.' Prioritise main events 'To make the most of your money and to avoid 'festival regret', prioritise events you will get the most out of, rather than giving in to pressure from friends. Many festivals offer single-day tickets so you can choose to just attend the day your favourite artists are on for a reduced cost.' Use festival apps for deals 'Its always worth downloading the festival app when you arrive as some events offer discounts or freebies, surprise giveaways or share food stall deals,' Davies says. 'Keep your notifications on and check daily for the chance to save money. The festival's official app should also have useful resources like maps and timetables, to ensure you can plan your day and not miss out on the artists you really want to see.' Is it still possible to enjoy a festival on a budget? 'With preparation and planning, there's no reason your festival fun should be limited this summer,' Nath says. 'Just remember to prioritise the events you most want to go to, set a careful budget and don't commit to more than you can afford.'
Entrepreneur
19-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Fighting the Touts: How Twickets Took a Stand Against Ticket Resale Greed
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. "As a team we were sick of the profiteering in ticket resale," he says. "But we weren't sure whether enough event goers believed the same way, and whether there was a business in capping resale prices at face value." Twickets, founded in 2011, started not as a tech platform but as a Twitter account, @Twickets, where users could post spare tickets for sale - so long as they didn't charge more than face value. "As luck would have it, there was plenty of inventory to share to our followers, and we very quickly reached 10,000's of followers," Davies says. That early traction gave him and his team the confidence to invest in building out a full trading platform. Today, Twickets has evolved into a web and app-based service where buyers and sellers can exchange tickets safely, with the company acting as a trusted intermediary. But Twickets wasn't just solving a problem for fans. The team quickly realised that inflated resale prices were hurting the live events industry itself. "If event goers spend more on their tickets to a gig / festival etc then they'll have less money to buy tickets to future shows, on merchandise or even food and drinks at the venue," Davies explains. "So everyone was losing out other than the ticket touts." This insight became the foundation of Twickets' growth strategy. Rather than compete with industry stakeholders, they partnered with them. "We approached hundreds of artists, comedians, venues, festivals and even box offices to be their official resale partner," says Davies. "Receiving their endorsement meant not just a seal of authenticity but also a rapidly growing stream of inventory hitting our platform." Now a profitable and recognised player in the live entertainment world, Davies is also vocal about the lessons he's learned from past ventures - particularly when it comes to funding. "I learned from one of my previous start ups that wherever possible stay away from PE / VC funding, and keep control of your business," he says. "It's something I applied to Twickets and fortunately we've only ever had to take a small amount of investment... from high net worth individuals who can also help grow our business." His advice to UK startup founders? Keep it lean and grounded: "Test your concept as much as you possibly can before you launch. And when you're finally ready to go, start small and focused, looking to grow steadily and sustainably." And most importantly, he adds, "Where you can, either self-finance or seek investment from those you trust, in order to stay in control of your business." Twickets' success may not have come from disrupting an industry with flashy tech or aggressive VC backing - but in standing up for fairness and long-term trust. It turns out, that's a business model that fans and founders alike can believe in.
Metro
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
The little trick that will get you into this Summer's best music festivals free
Festival season is here, with hundreds of thousands of music lovers set to head to city centres, parks and farms across the country from now until September. That's if you've been able to get a ticket. Demand is the first barrier for the most popular events, but even if you're first in the queue, price is potentially a bigger issue. As with everything, ticket prices have continued to rise. Last year Glastonbury was £355. This year those who managed to get a ticket were forking out £18.50 more at £373.50. The Isle of Wight Festival has increased by £15 to £285 this year and even one-day events can go past £100. However, if you're flexible or willing to put in some graft, then you can cut these prices –potentially getting in for free! Let's start with the freebies, which are available to volunteers. Most major UK festivals, small and large, offer free spots for those who'll work. That could be pouring pints at a bar or checking tickets at the gates, through to staffing help desks or litter picking. In return for a shift each day, you'll get free entry and often a food token. If it's a camping event there's usually a separate secure area to stay, too. On day festivals you can usually be done by 8pm so you can enjoy the headline performers. At longer events, you'll hopefully be able to switch shifts so you can see your favourite acts. Just be prepared to get there early for training and to work at least one night. Some will require you to stay on a day or two after to operate the clean-up. You will have to part with some cash upfront, but as long as you turn up for your shifts you'll get that refunded after the event – though watch out for some small admin fees that won't be returned by some organisers. Of course, some of these ships have already sailed. You've no chance of Glastonbury this year, or even the big-name dayers from the likes of Charli XCX and Stevie Wonder. But you can still pick up a free ticket to Leeds, Latitude and Boomtown, as examples. Many of the opportunities come via charities, so you'll also be helping to promote and raise funds for those causes. Ones to check include Oxfam, WaterAid, Charity Concierge and My Cause UK. Others come via commercial businesses, like Festaff and Hotbox Events. See their websites for details and application forms. But for those who don't want to work for their ticket, or don't have the time to commit to extra days off, all is not lost. I'd suggest you look for cheaper tickets at fan-to-fan resale sites such as Twickets and Tixel. The closer you get to an event, anyone who has to offload their ticket could get desperate and start listing it at a lower price. With Twickets you can even bid what you're prepared to pay. More Trending If you're really flexible, I'd also keep an eye on seat-filling sites including Central Tickets and Show Film First, which list cheap or free tickets for non-sold events a few days before they happen, for a small admin fee. You might also be able to pick up local tickets via sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial, though I haven't seen as many of these in recent years as I used to. View More » Failing that, and you have to pay full price, you can get around 5% back on Ticketmaster gift cards purchased from apps such as HyperJar, Cheddar or JamDoughnut, which would at least cover some of those booking fees. MORE: Run, don't walk! The Nespresso travel tumbler everyone's obsessed with has returned MORE: What are the changes to the Assisted Dying bill and how will MPs vote? MORE: Get the most out of your garden with this wild-life friendly garden range at Dunelm
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bargain British festivals that will help you forget all about Glastonbury
Whether you're eyeing up indie anthems in Liverpool, dance beats in Manchester or folk in the Brecon Beacons, now is the time to plan your summer and get smart about snapping up sold-out tickets for less If you've missed out on Glastonbury tickets, don't despair, there are plenty of other festivals you can get tickets for and many of them work out a lot cheaper so you can still have fun while saving money. According to Richard Davies, founder of Twickets, timing is everything when it comes to buying resale tickets. 'Most listings appear much closer to the event date, often in the final week,' he explains. 'Keep an eye out for tickets marked 'accepting offers' it's a great way to negotiate a deal and pay even less." Twickets' Top Tips for bagging festival tickets: Set up alerts: So you'll be notified the moment tickets for your chosen event are listed Act fast: Save your payment details and be ready to buy the second something appears Check daily: Even with alerts, manually browsing listings can help you catch newly listed tickets Stay flexible: Consider day passes or alternative ticket types for better availability 11 Glastonbury alternatives worth booking now: Still want a summer to remember? We've rounded up 11 other festivals worth checking out this summer: Liverpool Sound City – Liverpool, 2-4 May Celebrating Liverpool's musical heritage, Sound City is perfect for discovering the next big indie and alternative acts. Performances across multiple venues provide an intimate festival experience in this iconic music city. Tickets from £49.50. Back To Mine - Bristol - 23-25 May. This weekend-long festival is set in the beautiful surroundings of Chew Valley Lake and promises sets from Gok Wan and Roni Size. You can buy a weekend ticket to the house and dance music festival which stretches across three days for £162 or a day ticket for just £66.45. Parklife – Manchester, 14-15 June. Held in Manchester's Heaton Park, Parklife is one of the UK's biggest urban festivals. It offers a lineup of top-tier acts across genres including hip-hop, pop, and electronic, known for its lively crowds and dynamic energy. Tickets from £97.70. Isle of Wight Festival – Isle of Wight, 19-20 June. Steeped in music history, the Isle of Wight Festival is ideal for classic rock, indie, and pop fans. Located in picturesque surroundings, attendees can enjoy headline acts alongside emerging talent. Tickets from £125. 2000trees – Cheltenham, 9-12 July. Perfect for rock and alternative music fans, 2000trees delivers an intimate, award-winning experience in the Cotswold Hills. Expect a community feel, passionate performances, and a welcoming atmosphere. Tickets from £45. Nozstock The Hidden Valley - Herefordshire, 18 July. An annual boutique music and arts festival held near Bromyard, showcasing acoustic, indie, rock, ska, folk, reggae, psytrance, drum 'n' bass, dubstep, house, and more. Tickets from £60, children under 12 go free. Latitude Festival – Suffolk, 24-27 July Known for its diverse mix of music, comedy, literature, and theatre, Latitude offers more than just music. Set in Henham Park, it boasts a relaxed, family-friendly vibe with a fantastic lineup of indie, pop, and electronic acts. Tickets from £190. Rebellion Festival – Blackpool, 7-10 August. As the UK's largest punk and alternative festival, Rebellion brings an energetic, rebellious spirit to the Blackpool seafront. Expect legendary punk acts alongside passionate crowds and a vibrant atmosphere. Tickets from £80. Green Man Festival – Brecon Beacons, 14 August. Nestled within the stunning Brecon Beacons, Green Man Festival combines folk, indie, and electronic music in a uniquely magical atmosphere. Its friendly vibe and breathtaking scenery create an unforgettable festival experience. Sold out, resale tickets available through Twickets. Beautiful Days – Devon, 15-17 August. Created by The Levellers, Beautiful Days offers a genuine grassroots feel, celebrating alternative and folk music in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Located in Devon's Escot Park, it's perfect for families and music lovers alike. Tickets from £190. End of the Road Festival – Dorset, 28-31 August. End of the Road Festival offers a magical conclusion to summer within the stunning Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset. Renowned for its eclectic lineup that spans indie, folk, and alternative music, attendees enjoy intimate sets in a relaxed, beautiful setting. Tickets from £275.
