New chapter, new location for Greenbelt Festival

(Photo: Greenbelt)

This year marked Greenbelt's 40th anniversary and the festival will be kicking off the new chapter in its life with a change of scene.

After 15 years at Cheltenham Racecourse, Greenbelt 2014 is set to take place in the beautiful grounds of Boughton House, Northamptonshire.

The change of location has been prompted by the £45million redevelopment of the Cheltenham Racecourse.

Ian Renton, Regional Director of the South West region of The Jockey Club: "We have had 15 successful years working with the Greenbelt team, developing a really strong working relationship, with both parties helping to grow Greenbelt into the hugely successful event that it is today.

"However, with the grandstand redevelopment taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse over the next two years, we are not able to provide Greenbelt with the site and facilities that they require to create the event.

"For this reason, Greenbelt are to relocate elsewhere, but we wish Greenbelt and the team the very best in their new location."

Maurice Whittaker, Commercial & Creative Director, Boughton House is "delighted" to welcome Greenbelt to the estate next August.

"With so many vistas – from sweeping lawns, wide avenues of trees and the recently restored lake system, to small intimate areas, including Orpheus, our land art installation by Kim Wilkie – we hope that Boughton will provide an inspiring setting for an inspiring festival," he said.

The festival takes place over the 2014 August Bank Holiday weekend and tickets will go on sale in January.

Paul Northup, Creative Director, Greenbelt said: "Our theme for our 40th festival last August was 'Life Begins' and with our move to Boughton – to what will be Greenbelt's seventh site in its 40-year pilgrimage of the imagination – I feel all the excitement and anticipation of a new life being born.

"I am confident that, for both our community and the content we curate, the move will provide a fresh start, a new sense of vision, and a heightened sense that together we can make a festival that is life-changing."