What FORBIDDEN FOREST LTD does

Forbidden Festival Ltd (trading as Forbidden Forest) is a privately held UK company founded in 2016 that operates an annual electronic music festival at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire. The festival serves adults aged 18+ interested in House, Tech House, Techno and Drum & Bass genres, and sells tickets in three camping tiers — Forbidden Fields (standard), Forbidden Fields Plus (elevated amenities), and Forbidden Lakeside Retreat (VIP with pool, hot tubs, sauna) — alongside non-camping, parking, shuttle and accommodation add-ons. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time ticket sales, with ancillary streams from VIP upgrades, parking passes, Pink Moon glamping partnerships, Big Green Coach travel commissions, and payment-plan fees via Klarna/PayPal BNPL.

The festival features six immersive woodland stages (Azteca, Reactor, Bunker, Tempest, HIVE) equipped with L-Acoustics PA systems, and supports its operations through a mobile application (iOS/Android via Festyvent/Clarifimedia), a Vivenu-powered ticketing website, marketing automation via Klaviyo and HubSpot, Intercom live chat, and Google Analytics. Notable infrastructure includes the £1 million 2025 site investment covering drainage, sound systems and accessibility upgrades, and exclusive attractions such as the Arcadia Spider (UK festival exclusive for 2026). The company maintains operational partnerships with Far And Beyond (led by ex-Live Nation COO John Probyn), Production Hire Ltd, Nimbus Disability, Event Cup Solutions, and Mixmag (official media partner).

Name

FORBIDDEN FOREST LTD

Legal name

Forbidden Festival Ltd

Website

https://forbidden-forest.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Forbidden Forest Ltd is a privately held UK company that produces an annual electronic music festival at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, serving House, Techno and DnB fans with multi-tier camping, VIP, and travel add-on packages across six woodland stages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Music Festival / Outdoor Event Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Campground & Overnight Facilities Operations (Campsites, Cabins, Backcountry Huts) (THAAAGAE), Traditional Campgrounds (Tent & Mixed-Use) (THAMAJAB)

Keywords

• Electronic music festivals
• Live event ticketing
• Festival camping services
• Music festival hospitality
• Outdoor event production

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Festival Ticket Sales: Multi-tiered weekend and day tickets with various camping packages (Forbidden Fields, Forbidden Fields Plus, Forbidden Lakeside Retreat) generating the primary revenue stream
2. VIP and Upgrade Add-ons: Premium upgrades including VIP Arena Access, Forbidden Backstage Pass with stage access, and Forest Fresh shower/toilet facilities
3. Parking Passes: Weekend parking passes sold separately from tickets, included free with Plus and Lakeside tiers
4. Accommodation Packages: Pre-pitched tent and boutique glamping options via partner Pink Moon in various campsite tiers
5. Shuttle and Coach Travel: Official shuttle bus services from Grantham Station and regional coach services via Big Green Coach
6. Payment Plan Processing: Payment plan fees and Buy Now Pay Later (Klarna/PayPal) transaction processing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Forbidden Forest Ltd produces and operates an annual electronic music festival at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, UK, featuring six immersive woodland stages, over 50 House/Techno/DnB artists, multi-tiered camping packages (Forbidden Fields, Forbidden Fields Plus, Forbidden Lakeside Retreat), VIP and Backstage upgrades, on-site parking, shuttle and coach travel services, accessibility provisions via Nimbus Disability, and an official iOS/Android mobile app. The festival runs on a phased ticket release strategy (presale then general sale) with payment plan and Buy Now Pay Later options.

Product overview

Forbidden Forest LTD operates the Forbidden Forest Festival, an annual electronic music festival held at Belvoir Castle featuring multiple immersive woodland stages and comprehensive ticket tiers. The core product is the festival itself with ticket packages spanning three camping tiers: Forbidden Fields (standard camping), Forbidden Fields Plus (elevated amenities), and Forbidden Lakeside Retreat (VIP experience with swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna, and secret sets). Add-on products include VIP Arena Access and Forbidden Backstage Pass upgrades, Pink Moon pre-pitched and boutique accommodation, Big Green Coach travel, parking passes, and shuttle services. The festival features multiple stages including Azteca (main temple stage), Reactor (DnB home with L-Acoustics K1), HIVE (intimate forest setting), and Bunker. Supporting services include the official mobile app, volunteer program via Hotbox Events, and accessibility integration with Nimbus Access Card system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forbidden Fields: Standard camping area with basic tent camping access and arena entry.
• Forbidden Fields Plus
• Forbidden Lakeside Retreat
• Forbidden Backstage Pass
• Azteca
• Reactor
• Bunker
• HIVE

Products and services

• Forbidden Forest Festival Annual multi-day electronic music festival held at Belvoir Castle featuring multiple immersive woodland stages and over 50 of the top House, Tech House, Techno, and DnB artists, with tiered camping and accommodation packages.
• Forbidden Fields (Standard Camping Ticket) Standard camping ticket providing access to the Forbidden Fields campsite, campsite village, and arena entry Friday through Sunday for the annual electronic music festival.
• Forbidden Fields Plus (Elevated Camping Ticket) Elevated camping experience including the Forbidden Fields Plus campsite, free car parking, fresh toilets and showers, pamper areas, chill-out zones, and exclusive food and drink vendors.
• Forbidden Lakeside Retreat (VIP Camping Ticket) Most exclusive campsite tier with VIP Arena Access, swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna, secret DJ sets, chill-out zones, fresh toilets, showers, pamper areas, and free car parking included.
• Weekend Non-Camping Ticket

Quantifiable outcome

• £1 million site investment in 2025 infrastructure improvements including £150k drainage work
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MuseraminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Global fashion-forward label announced as Official Lakeside Retreat Partner for FF26. Known for bold, trend-led festival fashion collections. Offering exclusive 15% discount to Forbidden Forest attendees with code MUSERAXFF26.
• MixmagcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for Forbidden Forest. Provides editorial coverage, Mixmag Lab takeover events, and cross-promotional content featuring Mixmag cover stars performing at the festival.
• Pink MooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial accommodation partner providing pre-pitched tents and boutique glamping experiences (yurts, bell tents, larger tents) in Forbidden Fields Plus and Forbidden Lakeside Retreat campsites.
• Ticket FairycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial ticketing partner for the festival providing ticketing infrastructure and services for ticket sales.
• Big Green CoachcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial carbon-neutral event travel provider. UK's largest carbon-neutral event travel company with 15 years of expertise. Provides coach travel from over 15 UK pickup locations and shuttle services from Grantham Station.
• Nimbus DisabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading disability accreditation organization providing the Access Card Scheme and Digital Access Pass (DAP). Partners with festival to ensure consistent and secure accessibility provisions including essential companion tickets, accessible viewing areas, and entrance facilities.
• Production Hire LtdcoreTechnology or IntegrationUK's leading audio company providing state-of-the-art L-Acoustics PA systems and delay stacks for all festival stages, including L-Acoustics K1 system for Reactor stage.
• Hotbox EventsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVolunteer partner managing festival volunteers. Provides volunteer recruitment, shift coordination, and crew perks including private crew campsite, discounted catering, and free phone charging.
• Event Cup SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Certified company providing reusable cup scheme for all festival bars. Cups washed using water-efficient machines at renewable energy-powered locations. For every 1000 cups returned, plants a tree in the UK.
• vivenucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnology platform provider powering official ticket sales website. Sells tickets and processes transactions on behalf of Forbidden Festival Ltd. Not the event organizer but provides ticketing infrastructure.
• Far And Beyond (FAB)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNew operations team appointed for 2025 show, including ex Live Nation COO John Probyn as Group Director of Event Operations. Brings expertise in live events and festival management with £1 million investment focus.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boardmasters Festival: UK music + camping festival mix at a fixed countryside site with multi-stage electronic programming; directly comparable in the camping-electronic-music segment.
• Eastern Electrics: UK electronic-focused festival and events brand; overlaps on House, Techno and DnB programming and serves similar urban electronic-music attendees.
• Parklife Festival: Large UK dance-leaning festival in Manchester with multi-stage programming and electronic headliners; competes for the same 18-30 UK electronic festival-goer demographic that Forbidden Forest targets.
• All Points East: London-based multi-day festival with a heavy electronic lineup and VIP tiering; comparable in audience overlap and in monetizing premium tiers alongside general admission.
• Boomtown Fair: UK independent immersive music festival combining theatrical world-building with multi-stage camping, marketed to a similar experiential-leaning festival audience. Closest competitor on woodland-camping-meets-electronic positioning.
• Creamfields: The UK's flagship electronic dance music festival; multi-stage camping format and electronic-only lineup directly overlap with Forbidden Forest's target audience across House, Techno and DnB. The most direct head-to-head competitor in the UK EDM festival category.

Broad incumbents

• Tomorrowland: The world's largest EDM festival based in Belgium; serves as the global incumbent that anchors the broader electronic festival category in which Forbidden Forest competes for attendee mindshare and DJ routing.
• Glastonbury Festival: The UK's largest and most established camping festival; while musically broader, it is the incumbent against which all UK camping festival concepts are benchmarked and is the most visible UK alternative for an experiential attendee.

Others

• Big Green Coach: Official travel partner to Forbidden Forest providing carbon-neutral coach services; relevant as an ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, illustrating the partnership network that defines UK festival operations.

Emerging players

• Hospitality (DnB festival series): Drum & bass-focused UK event brand closely overlapping the Reactor stage programming at Forbidden Forest; competes for the DnB sub-segment of the same electronic festival audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/forbidenforest
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForbiddenForestUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/forbiddenforestuk
• TikToktiktok.com/@forbiddenforestfestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exurbia-events-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FORBIDDEN FOREST LTD