Neighbours feared days of “utter lawlessness and debauchery” after claiming to have witnessed men urinating, smoking cannabis and inhaling laughing gas outside their homes during previous events at the farm.
BecksFest was advertised to take place on July 5 and 6 this year at Beck Evans Farm in Water Lane. Festival organiser and farm owner Danny Evans applied to Bexley Council for a premises licence for the event, but withdrew the application at the last minute before it was expected to go before the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee on June 10.
On the same day, BecksFest announced on its social media pages that it had been postponed “due to concerns raised by our neighbouring community and the local authority”.
The statement continued: “We recognise that recent press coverage has cast a spotlight on these challenges, and rather than push forward amid unresolved matters, we are choosing to take this time to address all concerns properly.
“Our commitment remains unwavering: to deliver a festival that celebrates music and dance for all ages while respecting the interests of everyone involved. We are committed to collaborating with our neighbours and the council on this journey to create a long-term, sustainable business that thoughtfully addresses all concerns.”
BecksFest was billed as a “family festival in Kent” which would have featured several tribute music acts, DJs, food stands, bars and a children’s fun fair. Mr Evans initially applied for a premises licence to allow for entertainment, the provision of late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises to be allowed throughout the year.
This resulted in a serious backlash from Water Lane residents with many submitting strong objections. Councillor Kurtis Christoforides objected to the licensing application as well, calling the Beck Evans Farm operators “wholly untrustworthy”.
Police and Bexley’s environmental health and licensing teams also registered their objections to the application. In response to the overwhelmingly negative representations, Beck Evans Farm altered its application so it only applied to BecksFest.
Councillor James Hunt was disappointed to see that the music festival had been postponed and felt that much of the hostility towards the farm was “unwarranted”.
He said: “It’s awful when neighbour relations break down, there has been a lot of heated discussion since the Kelsey family sold the farm to Danny Evans and his family. However, sometimes things are not as clear as they seem, and I only hope we can find a way to bring all parties together for the good of the local community and the use of this farm for future generations.
“Beck Evans has been a great support to local schools and the local Scout Group and supports many local charities. From pumpkin picking to the lavender fields to family fun days, it’s no Diddly Squat but it’s local.”
Within the postponement statement, BecksFest organisers reassured punters that full refunds would be issued, or ticket holders could put their fee towards a future event at the farm.
The statement concluded: “This is not the end—our team is already working hard to resolve the necessary issues and find a way forward. We remain hopeful that we will return in the future, with an event that truly reflects the spirit of music and dance for all ages and we hope to be able to announce the new date soon.
“We appreciate the incredible support from those who bought tickets, our vendors, and partners and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time.”
It is not known whether the farm hopes to reorganise the festival for later this summer. Beck Evans Farm has been approached for comment.
