A campaign has been launched to defend music festivals in Brockwell Park

The battle for the future of Brockwell Park is raging on. At the end of April a local group launched a legal battle against Lambeth Council urging a review of the festivals being held in the south London park, which include Wide Awake, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day and City Splash.

The group, Protect Brockwell Park (PBP), which includes actor Mark Rylance, was complaining about several impacts of the festivals on the space, including walls being erected in the park, noise and environmental damage. 

But later a counter campaign appeared on social media, called SayYesLambeth. This group claimed to be a grassroots organisation fighting to keep festivals in Brockwell Park. ‘Fighting for culture, joy and community in Lambeth. Say YES to homes. YES to nightlife. YES to events in our parks,’ read their Instagram bio. 

However, some locals claimed this group was a fake, created by the local council or the festival organisers to make PBP look bad. London Centric investigated, and reported that the SayYesLambeth campaign was created by ‘five gays with a laptop’ – a group of friends who belong to a queer rugby team in south London. London Centric’s Jim Waterson spoke with David, a member of the group who lives in Brixton. David asked Waterson not to publish his last name due to his work in the civil service. 

‘London Centric has yet to find anything to suggest SayYesLambeth is run by anyone other than an informal group of rugby-playing friends,’ said the report. 

In an open letter posted on the SayYesLambeth Instagram, the group wrote: ‘For too long, a small but powerful group has dominated the debate about Lambeth’s future – shouting down new homes, opposing events in our parks, and trying to silence our vibrant night-time economy. Their voices are loud, organised, and well-funded. But they do not speak for all of us.

‘We, the young people, the renters, the workers, the small business owners, the creatives – we are the majority. And now it’s time to make ourselves heard.

‘Lambeth’s night-time economy isn’t just about entertainment – it’s about life, jobs, and opportunity. From music venues to clubs, from bars to late-night cafés, these spaces are vital for our communities. They provide work, they foster creativity, and they offer safe spaces for people from all walks of life. Without them, Lambeth risks becoming sterile, unaffordable, and soulless.

‘We also need to protect events in our parks. Mighty Hoopla, Wide Awake, Lambeth Country Show and other festivals bring life, joy, and connection to Lambeth. They showcase our diversity, support local businesses, and give thousands of people access to music, culture, and community right on their doorstep. Parks are for everyone – and events are part of that shared, joyful use.’

SayYesLambeth also created a petition to save the festivals, which had 512 signatures at the time of writing. 

Highlighting the festivals’ positive impact on local businesses, Brockwell Live said in a statement: ‘Brockwell Live delivers a series of free and ticketed events in Brockwell Park with more than half of attendees coming from across Greater London.

‘Celebrating the city’s diverse music and culture, events include the capital’s largest Caribbean and African music festival, a nationally significant queer pop festival and a critically acclaimed celebration of jazz, funk and soul.

‘Since 2023, we have co-produced the Lambeth Country Show, a free event run by Lambeth Council for 50 years, helping Lambeth save over £700,000 in 2024.

‘Brockwell Live proudly supports many local organisations through the Brockwell Live Community Fund and has donated over £150,000 to date.

‘We take our stewardship of Brockwell Park seriously. We welcome scrutiny and maintain open channels for dialogue with residents, councillors, and community groups at all times.’

The forthcoming legal challenge could see Brockwell Park’s festivals cancelled, and potentially change the face of day festivals in the capital forever. The hearing will take place on Thursday, May 15.

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