Boomtown Fair
Boomtown Fair is a private UK music and arts festival operator running an annual five-day immersive event at Hampshire's Matterley Estate, serving festival-goers through ticketing, premium camping, cashless RFID payments, merchandise, and brand sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Boomtown Fair does
Boomtown Fair, operated by Boomtown Festival UK Limited (Company Number 07871423), is a private UK company that produces an annual five-day immersive music and arts festival at Matterley Estate in Hampshire's South Downs National Park. Founded in 2009 and resumed in 2022 after a pandemic hiatus, the event runs annually in mid-August with 12 main stages, over 50 hidden venues, and themed districts spanning music, theatre, art, and interactive experiences. The company operates with an 11-50 employee footprint and serves a base of tens of thousands of individual festival-goers per edition, with 850,000+ collective social followers and 180,000+ mobile app users across iOS and Android.
Core product technology centres on a closed-loop RFID wristband payment system (Weezevent) for all on-site food, beverage, merchandise, and charity transactions, an iOS/Android mobile app providing maps, real-time information and community features, and an EcoBond scheme that monetises waste recycling (£20 refundable per returned bag). Supporting platforms include a Kaboodle-managed ticketing, payment-plan and resale infrastructure, Shopify-powered merchandise, and The Observatory academic research hub partnering with UK universities via Dr. Martha Newson to study collective behaviour. Britvic-style brand partnerships (Budweiser, Red Bull) sit alongside integrated travel services (National Express coaches from 50+ UK locations, LiftShare carpooling) and accessibility infrastructure (The Meadow campsite, Essential Companion tickets, Mobiloo changing places).
Revenue is generated through a multi-stream direct-to-consumer model: ticket sales at £360-£430 across entry tiers, premium accommodation tiering (Camp Skylark glamping, Camp Orchid, Tangerine Fields, Camplight), car parking and shuttle services, on-site cashless spending transaction share, merchandise via Shopify, and brand sponsorship income. The 2026 edition (Chapter Five: Radical Redesign, 12-16 August) has sold out, with residual demand routed exclusively through the Citizen-to-Citizen resale channel. Distribution is single-venue at Matterley Estate, with a year-round owned digital ecosystem (app, web, newsletter, social, Linktree) supporting merchandise drops, brand partnership content, and community-led programmes including the Vibe Check pledge, Agents of Change sustainability volunteers, and The Network/Town Hall governance discussions.
Boomtown Fair firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boomtown Fair
- Legal name
- Boomtown Festival UK Limited
- Website
- https://boomtownfair.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Boomtown Fair is a private UK music and arts festival operator running an annual five-day immersive event at Hampshire's Matterley Estate, serving festival-goers through ticketing, premium camping, cashless RFID payments, merchandise, and brand sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boomtown Fair industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Festival / Live Entertainment Events
- NAICS
- All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)
Keywords
Where Boomtown Fair is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boomtown Fair business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Festival Tickets: Primary revenue from ticket sales via Kaboodle platform. Tickets sold include various entry types (Wednesday/Thursday), public transport packages, with prices ranging from £360-£430 for citizen-to-citizen resale. Includes EcoBond (£20) in ticket price.
- Camping Accommodation Upgrades: Premium accommodation options including Camp Skylark (Hilltop and Sunset), Camp Orchid (Downtown and Campervan), Tangerine Fields (pre-pitched tents), and Camplight. Sold separately from festival entry tickets.
- Car Parking and Transportation: Revenue from car parking passes (£50-£65), coach/shuttle services (£23-£25), and private hire coach drop-off bookings (£90). Phase-based pricing with early bird discounts.
- On-site Cashless Spending: Revenue generated through the cashless payment system as attendees spend on food, beverages, merchandise, and services using RFID wristbands across all vendor points.
- Merchandise Sales: Festival merchandise including clothing and accessories sold through online store (Shopify) and on-site stalls. Early access offered to newsletter subscribers.
- Brand Partnerships and Sponsorship: On-site and online partnership opportunities with brands including Budweiser, Red Bull, and others. Includes venue naming, music programming, pouring rights, immersive experiences, app integration, and social media content packages.
- Added Extras and Facilities: Revenue from locker rentals, phone charging (Charge Candy), and other comfort facilities on site.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Thursday Entry Citizen-to-Citizen Resale |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Wednesday Entry Citizen-to-Citizen Resale |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Car Parking |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Shuttle Bus from Winchester Station |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Private Hire Coach Drop-off |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | EcoBond (included in ticket price) |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels12 records
Boomtown Fair product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boomtown Fair is an annual five-day immersive music and arts festival held at Matterley Estate in Hampshire's South Downs National Park, UK. The core offering is the festival entry ticket providing access to 12 main stages, 50+ hidden venues, themed districts, and thousands of performers, with add-on camping, glamping, transport, and on-site services including a cashless RFID wristband payment system.
Product overview
Boomtown Fair is a multi-day immersive music festival held annually at Matterley Estate in Hampshire's South Downs National Park. The offering comprises a core festival entry product with themed districts, 12 main stages, and over 50 hidden venues, combined with diverse camping options ranging from general camping to premium glamping (Camp Skylark, Camp Orchid) and accessible facilities (The Meadow). A proprietary cash-free RFID wristband payment system powers all on-site transactions. Supporting products include locker rental, phone charging, merchandise, and environmental initiatives like the Eco Bond scheme. The festival also offers academic programming through The Observatory research hub and wellbeing services via The Retreat. All ticketing and accommodation bookings are managed through the Kaboodle platform, with merchandise sold via Shopify.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Observatory: Academic research hub led by Dr. Martha Newson hosting workshops, talk panels, and live scientific studies exploring human experience, neuroscience, psychology, performance, identity, and collective behaviour.
- The Retreat
- Camp Skylark
- Camp Orchid
- The Meadow Accessible Campsite
- Tangerine Fields
- Camplight
- Agents of Change
- Vibe Check
Products and services
- Festival Entry Tickets Weekend music festival access to Boomtown's immersive themed city at Matterley Estate, South Downs National Park, with themed districts, 12 main stages, over 50 hidden venues, and thousands of performers. Sold via Kaboodle ticketing platform.
- General Camping Standard tent camping included with all festival tickets, available across multiple themed campsite areas including East camping with a quiet camping zone.
- Tangerine Fields Pre-Pitched Camping Pre-pitched tent accommodation options sleeping 1-8 people, with some packages including additional camping gear, booked through Kaboodle platform.
- Camplight Pre-Pitched Camping Pre-pitched tent accommodation options booked through Kaboodle platform, offering lightweight camping for travelers wanting to avoid carrying equipment.
- Camp Skylark Premium Glamping Premium glamping accommodation in two locations (Hilltop and Sunset) featuring cocktail bars, yoga sessions, pamper rooms, hot showers, and flushing toilets. Named after the South Downs skylark bird.
- Camp Orchid Upscale Camping Upscale camping experience with hot showers, flushing loos, food traders, fire pits, and access to exclusive secret bars including The Hideout.
- The Meadow Accessible Campsite Staffed accessible campsite with wide access showers, accessible toilets, Mobiloo changing places facility, wheelchair charging, and dedicated accessibility shuttle service.
- Essential Companion Tickets Complimentary tickets for deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent festival-goers who require support to attend, awarded based on documented accessibility needs.
- Boomtown Locker Service Secure locker rental at multiple festival locations including Hidden Woods, East Camp, Lions Den, Camp Skylark, Camp Orchid, and Downtown Camping. Available in small and large sizes, some with charging facilities.
- EcoBond Recycling Scheme Environmental initiative adding £20 to wristbands, refundable upon returning a full bag of recycling and general waste to EcoBond Hubs.
- Boomtown Merchandise Store Official online merchandise store featuring 'Radical Redesign' branded clothing and accessories, available for home delivery or on-site collection, powered by Shopify.
- Phone Charging (Charge Candy) Phone charging stations at six locations across the festival site including Hidden Woods, Thrutopia, Mini Plaza, 5 Ways Jct, Valley Camping, and Downtown Village.
Quantifiable outcome
- 15,000+ Vibe Check pledge participants committed to safer festival practices
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Boomtown Fair
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Boomtown Fair technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature4 records
Boomtown Fair partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- KaboodlecoreOfficial ticketing partner managing ticket sales, payment plans, name changes, Citizen-to-Citizen resale platform, and customer account management. Processes all booking transactions including car parking, shuttle services, and accommodation upgrades.
- National ExpresscoreOfficial coach service partner operating direct routes to the festival gates from over 50 locations across the UK. Coaches arrive Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday and depart Sunday or Monday.
- WeezeventcoreCashless payment technology provider powering the RFID wristband payment system. Works within a closed loop system eliminating need for WiFi and banks.
- BudweisermajorBrand sponsor with logo featured on partnerships page. On-site experiential marketing presence including venue sponsorship and pouring rights.
- Red BullmajorBrand sponsor with logo featured on partnerships page. Music programming and experiential marketing partnership.
- Charge CandyminorPhone charging service provider with stations located across the festival site. Operates charging facilities for attendee devices.
- CSMminorStrategic partner with logo featured on partnerships page.
- Tangerine FieldsminorPre-pitched camping accommodation partner providing tent rentals for festival attendees. Integrated with Kaboodle booking system.
- CamplightminorPre-pitched camping accommodation partner providing tent options. Integrated with Kaboodle booking system.
- Dr. Martha Newson (University of Greenwich / University of Oxford)coreLead researcher for The Observatory academic research hub. Brings together researchers from multiple universities to conduct social studies at the festival on wellbeing, identity, and collective behaviour.
- The LoopcoreDrug education and harm reduction service. Operates education tent in Pepperpot Market providing information and guidance on drugs for free. 'Crazy Chemists' programme offers hands-on drug safety education.
- TLC WelfarecoreWelfare team providing support services for attendees who feel overwhelmed. Based next to medical centre in Pepperpot Market and in Thrutopia. Also manages lost property.
- Safer SpacescoreSexual harassment, assault and domestic violence support service. Operates chill out and glam tent in Pepperpot Market, roams around the city. Supports with harassment, sexual health, consent, and assault reports.
- Event WellminorSensory and wellbeing space provider in Pepperpot Market. Offers calm, low-stimulation environment away from busy festival setting for attendees needing quiet moments.
- Bristol Drugs ProjectminorDrugs and alcohol advice and support service. Based at campsite hubs and roams around campsites focusing on reducing risk to festival-goers.
- The SamaritansminorMental health support charity providing talking services at festival welfare stalls across Thrutopia and The Retreat.
- Blink Mental HealthminorMental health support service providing talking services at festival welfare stalls.
- LiftShareminorCarpooling platform linking drivers with passengers to reduce congestion and environmental impact. Connects people looking for rides with drivers offering lifts.
- CitizenCardminorID card provider offering accepted identification for festival entry. Citizens can use CitizenCard instead of passport or driving licence to prove age. Code BOOMTOWN provides £8 discount.
- University researchers (The Observatory)coreMultiple university partnerships including University of Greenwich, University of Oxford, King's College London, University of Kent, UCL, University of Liverpool, University of Bath, University of Southampton, and others conducting research through The Observatory hub.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Boomtown Fair competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Latitude Festival: Multi-day UK summer festival featuring music alongside comedy, theatre, poetry, film, and family programming. Directly comparable to Boomtown's mixed-genre, immersive-emphasis proposition and similar in target demographic and ticket price point.
- Creamfields: UK's flagship electronic/dance music festival held over a multi-day August bank holiday weekend. Boomtown has won BBC Radio 1 Best Dance Festival partly against this competitor, indicating direct head-to-head competition for the same audience and sponsorship dollars.
- Tomorrowland: Belgian electronic/dance music mega-festival with strong immersive theatrical staging, themed brand world, and global travel audience. Closest international analogue to Boomtown in combining dance music programming with cinematic environment design and international ticketed audience.
- Wilderness Festival: Boutique UK music and arts festival in Oxfordshire combining music, food, theatre, wellness, and immersive programming. Conceptually the closest peer to Boomtown given the shared emphasis on theatrical staging, arts programming, and lifestyle/camping experience beyond pure line-up value.
- Isle of Wight Festival: Long-running UK large-scale music festival held annually on the Isle of Wight. Comparable in capacity tier, multi-day format, broad-genre line-up, and reliance on a single fixed venue site, making operational risks broadly similar to Boomtown's.
- Parklife Festival: Large UK urban music festival held in Manchester, headlined across dance, pop, and hip-hop genres. Competes with Boomtown for the same young, festival-going UK consumer wallet share and sponsorship categories such as alcohol and energy drinks.
- Reading & Leeds Festival: Large-scale UK bank-holiday weekend music festival operated by Live Nation across twin sites. Comparable in attendance scale, ticketing structure, and revenue diversification, though oriented toward rock/indie line-ups versus Boomtown's electronic-leaning immersive product.
- Glastonbury Festival: Iconic UK multi-stage, multi-day music festival held annually at a fixed countryside site (Worthy Farm). Directly comparable to Boomtown in operational scale, campsite-based offering, and broad entertainment mix spanning music, theatre, and arts.
Broad incumbents
- Coachella: US-based flagship destination festival owned and operated by AEG/Goldenvoice. Acts as a broader benchmark for premium-positioned large-format festivals rather than a direct geographic competitor; signals the scale ceiling attainable by mature experiential festival brands.
Regional players
- Secret Solstice: Mid-sized boutique music festival held in Iceland offering unique experiential positioning (e.g., lava tunnel events, midnight sun). Comparable as a differentiated, experience-led electronic-leaning festival, though operating in a different geographic market from Boomtown.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Boomtown Fair social profiles
Digital presenceBoomtown Fair compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Boomtown Fair financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boomtown Fair leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Boomtown Fair funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boomtown Fair M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Boomtown Fair
What does Boomtown Fair do?
Boomtown Fair is an annual five-day immersive music and arts festival held at Matterley Estate in Hampshire's South Downs National Park, UK. The core offering is the festival entry ticket providing access to 12 main stages, 50+ hidden venues, themed districts, and thousands of performers, with add-on camping, glamping, transport, and on-site services including a cashless RFID wristband payment system.
Is Boomtown Fair a public or private company?
Boomtown Fair is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Boomtown Fair founded?
Boomtown Fair was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Boomtown Fair based?
Boomtown Fair is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Boomtown Fair make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Festival Tickets are the primary driver. The others are camping Accommodation Upgrades, car Parking and Transportation, on-site Cashless Spending, merchandise Sales, brand Partnerships and Sponsorship and added Extras and Facilities.
Who are Boomtown Fair's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Latitude Festival, Creamfields, Tomorrowland, Wilderness Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Parklife Festival, Reading & Leeds Festival and Glastonbury Festival. Coachella is listed as a broad incumbent. Secret Solstice is listed as a regional player.
Does Boomtown Fair have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boomtown Fair.
What industry is Boomtown Fair in?
Boomtown Fair's product category is Music Festival / Live Entertainment Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAO, Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs. Its NAICS code is 713990 and its SIC code is 7990.