$300m lottery winner infuriates neighbours with huge backyard party
A lucky lottery winner who scooped up $300 million has infuriated his neighbours with a four-day festival to celebrate his win.
A lucky lottery winner who scooped up $300 million has infuriated his neighbours with a huge four-day festival to celebrate his win — and he plans to do it all over again.
UK man Adrian Bayford won £148 million (A$284 million today) in a EuroMillions draw in 2012 and hosted a “mini-Glastonbury” festival in his backyard to celebrate.
He has announced the ear-splitting festival will return, despite noise complaints from his neighbours.
The Cambridge Rock Festival, previously known as the Rockinbeerfest, takes place on Mr Bayford’s estate in Cambridgeshire, which he bought after winning the life-changing sum.
The four-day festival previously took place in 2017 and 2018 and hosted up to 2000 festival-heads. It was set to take place again this year but was cancelled after organisers were asked to get a permanent event licence. The festival has previously used a temporary licence to operate.
Concerns were raised by locals about the “intolerable” level of noise and “severe disturbance to peace” posed by the festival, according to local outlet Cambridge Independent.
However, despite the complaints, it has now been announced the Cambridge Rock Festival will go ahead in 2024.
The South Cambridgeshire District Council dismissed the locals’ claims and approved the licence application, permitting the event to have live music, sell booze between 11am and 11pm and host up to 1500 people, including staff, contractors and entertainers.
The licence also secures the future of the festival for years to come, granting it approval to go ahead for four days between May and September each year.
The event offers a “pay what you can afford” full festival ticket starting at £129 (AUD$248) as well as much cheaper day tickets.
A statement posted on the event’s website reads: “Whilst it’s too late for this year, we are pleased to announce that the Cambridge Rock Festival has been granted its premises licence, which will allow CRF 2024 to go ahead.
“Together with praise from the licensing subcommittee for putting on an event with such careful consideration for the local area.
“We will be shortly announcing the first acts who are very kindly rolling over their performances on to 2024.”
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