Warning of “devastating blow” to London culture after campaigners win court case deeming Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla and more “must be cancelled”

A warning of a “devastating blow” to London culture has been made after campaigners have won a court case that deems Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla and more “must be cancelled”.

Last month (April 22), it was reported that local residents in London had begun crowdfunding for legal action against music festivals held at Brockwell Park that they claimed were “unlawful”. The festivals are held at the venue under Brockwell Live, which is licensed by Lambeth Council.

This summer, festivals happening in the park include Wide Awake and Mighty Hoopla, along with Field Day, Cross The Tracks, and City Splash.

The dispute appears to be surrounding how long the park is closed off to the general public. The council granted a “certificate of lawful development” to Brockwell Live, an events company, that allows for a temporary change to the use of space that doesn’t require planning permission for a total of 28 days a year.

However, the resident’s group argued that the council have not taken into account the additional time the park is fenced off during the construction and dismantling of the site, which they claim led the park to be off limits to local residents for 38 days last year.

Rebekah Shaman – a member of the group of residents known as ‘Protect Brockwell Park’ – took legal action against the council over this dispute. Just yesterday (May 16), the judge ruled in favour of Shaman, deeming that allowing the park to be off-limits to local residents beyond 28 days would be “irrational”, per Far Out Magazine.

A leaked letter published by Brixton Buzz, written by solicitors representing ‘Protect Brockwell Park’, claims that the council have been told no Brockwell Live events can go ahead.

“As there is no planning permission for the Brockwell Live event, the event has to be cancelled,” the letter written by solicitors Goodenough Ring read.

Also among the group members is actor Mark Rylance, who commented on the judge’s ruling, saying: “Wonderful news. Brockwell park will be open to all for free again this summer. No walls. No trucks.”

However, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) have warned that the ruling could lead to a “devastating blow” to London culture that will “directly impact thousands of people”.

“The supply chain, from staging and lighting companies to local food and drink vendors, would suffer heavy financial losses,” NTIA’s Michael Kill said, per BBC.

“The local economy – including independent shops, pubs, restaurants, and hotels – which sees a surge in business during these festivals, would be hit hard.”

Kill added that the legal action undertaken by ‘Protect Brockwell Park’ was “emblematic of a much deeper crisis facing our cultural and events landscape”.

“If these festivals are unable to proceed, it would mark a devastating blow to London’s identity as a global hub for live music, culture, and community celebration,” he continued,
“and would signal a dark new era for the UK’s events and festival sector.”

Upon announcement of the ruling, Shaman told BBC: “This has been going on for years, it isn’t a one-off situation and it has been a consistent deterioration of the park, to the point where the community had to speak up to protect the park for future generations”.

“We are hoping to come to an agreement where events can still continue, but on a much lower level and also much more connected to the community.”

A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said that they are “currently assessing the impact of this judgment and determining next steps.”

As of now, among the performers still scheduled for Wide Awake 2025 are hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose headline set was retained despite a wave of cancellations by other festivals following their Coachella 2025 performance.

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