Boomtown survives official review after man’s death and local complaints

nme.com:

BBC, the Winchester City Council’s licensing committee has decided to not change the premises licence for alcohol and music for the annual music in Hampshire.

The 2025 edition of the fest will take place from August 6 through the 10.The review of the festival’s license came after Hampshire Constabulary applied to examine the running of the annual event after the death of a 22-year-old man at the Winchester site at the festival last year.

The death was confirmed to be “unexpected” and allegedly due to a “medical incident”.The committee have heard that the police have withdrawn their complaint ahead of the sub-committee meeting and are currently in discussion with the festival’s organisers to resolve any concerns for this year’s edition of the event.Along with the death of the attendee, councillors also heard 17 complaints from local residents about how the festival has negatively impacted them.

The complaints ranged from the the lack of sleep due to the event to the impact on the local red listed bird populations in the area.A festival organiser shared that the site was chosen for Boomtown due to the beauty of the South Downs National Park.