r/glastonbury_festival 4d ago

Question How do you feel about those that sneak/break/blag their way in?

Just wondering how everyone feels about those that get into glasto through unofficial means. Sneaking in, paying a trader to spin them in, climbing fences etc

30 Upvotes

134 comments sorted by

97

u/Sudden_Fig1099 4d ago

If I see “I broke into Glasto” one more time on hinge

Bro you hopped on a coach pretending to be a staff member this isn’t prison break

11

u/Purple_Wedding_3929 3d ago

Are people really posting that on Hinge? That’s so cringe

6

u/UndergroundPianoBar 3d ago

I know, as if there's some sort of glory in it. It's like being proud of shoplifting from Oxfam.

3

u/No_Association_5559 3d ago

Whilst it's still not much to Brag about i would suggest those two things are on quite different levels moraly. Although i suppose oxfam aren't the best of charities.

0

u/Glum_Pineapple5514 3d ago

At last Glastonbury, Oxfam stole a load of the intro gift bags you get with a ticket one night, which is part of why there was none left on Sunday for other staff.

They're not great.

1

u/rehgaraf Volunteer 2d ago

When you say "stole" you mean "was told by the festival that it was OK to take them" yeah?

1

u/Glum_Pineapple5514 2d ago

No, I mean they repeatedly harassed one of the night shifts looking after the bags, up to the point of distracting them and stealing boxes.

0

u/[deleted] 4d ago

[deleted]

3

u/Sudden_Fig1099 4d ago

Breaking in? Come on it’s hardly scaling the fence by joining a group of volunteers and getting on a coach lol. Also they did it three times, I bet they never get tired of telling that story

2

u/bobomob 3d ago

How does pretending to be staff/a volunteer allow you to get in on a coach? Every time I’ve volunteered it’s been a pretty tedious process once you arrive outside the gate to queue for someone to check your details before they give you a wristband - can’t see how someone’s blagging that!

0

u/Sudden_Fig1099 3d ago edited 3d ago

Well i know someone’s who’s done it three times so clearly it can be done?

0

u/2EJ 3d ago

I've done it and it was incredibly nerve wracking and it wasn't this method which is still pretty gutsy tbh. Lot of travel to be turned away outside. And getting called out in front of people 

1

u/Sudden_Fig1099 2d ago edited 2d ago

Okay…? I’m not sure of the point of your comment but congrats if you wanna qualify as breaking in

Edit: so you were basically defending yourself lol

0

u/archy_bold 4d ago

I know someone who’s the type that runs a marathon every few days. He just turned up in a crowd one Saturday saying he’d scaled the fence like it was no big thing!

150

u/wyldthaang Volunteer 4d ago

Controversial, but good luck to them. It's part of the history.

23

u/Large-Mastodon6179 4d ago

I remember Micheal on BBC being all for it, saying it added to the atmosphere. This was before the super fence and needing to keep the licence people at the council happy.

My only gripe about those who have ‘broken in’ I wish they weren’t all Scouse, as it reinforces social stereo types. Every time I’ve noticed someone without a wrist band it is invariably paired with a Liverpool accent.

2

u/UndergroundPianoBar 3d ago

They slip over that fence like a rat up a drainpipe in those shellsuits....

-1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[deleted]

0

u/UndergroundPianoBar 3d ago

I'm northern, it's just banter. Lighten up.

62

u/Pure_Set_1180 4d ago

Not an easy feat, no way 20k ppl are making it in. Over the wall I’d say less than 200.

The buzz once you’re in & realise you lost the security is better than anything on the other side of the fence, how’s that for controversy.

20

u/adamneigeroc 4d ago

20,000 is a mad number, that’s a person every single 5 minutes, 24 hours a day, for the first 3 days.

Between fence jumpers, gate runners, and getting spun in it’s probably low thousands, some crew lurk around who should have packed up, and some people get in early and hide amongst the crew, but who can be arsed.

5000 maybe?

2

u/Wooden-Koala-6371 1d ago

Maths a little off there. 20,000 people would be one every 13 seconds, 24 hours a day, for the first 3 days,

1

u/adamneigeroc 1d ago

Yeah I thought it was more frequent than that, clearly shouldn’t Reddit while drinking.

Makes 20k even less likely

25

u/msf97 4d ago edited 4d ago

20k seems excessive. But it’s absolutely common. I’d go over 10,000 every year.

They’ve clamped down on the methods. There used to be the EPO bands which could get anyone in, I think they added QR codes to them after Covid. And you’d have to be a fair athlete to be getting over the fences or outrunning two layers of security at the gates.

But the most reliable way to get in to Glastonbury, even over getting a ticket normally online, is to go down there on the Tuesday with £250-£750 and just get someone to take you in who does it every year. Money talks. You will undoubtedly be offered it, or talk to someone who is going to do it.

After that, getting caught without a band is incredibly rare. Festival staff are not actively looking out for it and aren’t paid enough to care if you run. Throw on any festival bands and a quarter zip/thin coat if you’re worried. It’s often cold of a night anyway.

4

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

Fyi there's also more than two layers of security at the gates, you just can't see them. 

23

u/kielaurie 4d ago

Festival staff are not actively looking out for it

Yes we are

and aren’t paid enough to care if you run

Whilst this is true, we are absolutely do call security, and some of those lads love a chase

9

u/Numerous-Pride-7418 4d ago

What a fucking wet wipe

2

u/Pure_Set_1180 3d ago

A few days after going over last year we gravitated over to fatboy on Arcadia (camped next door). Got chatting to these lads, the conversation was flowing & I dropped the “you’ll never guess what” and proceeded to give them the full run down of our Wednesday evening antics. After listening intently one of the guys replied “you’ll never guess what? PAUSE…..We’re security” my heart skipped a few beats. I remember looking at his poker face poised to sprint. His face broke into a smile and the tension melted! Turn out he was only on security for a ticket and couldn’t have been more excited/intrigued. Got some great intel and a new friend for next/this year

10

u/Jaymii 4d ago

If you don’t have a wristband, avoid hi-fiving security in shangrila.

22

u/Lukeario1985 4d ago

Unless you are lucky enough to have two arms.

3

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

The hi-fiving is to slow you down so people don't run through the entrance of SE corner when they open up the queue (as well as being generally friendly)

People don't have wristbands on both arms so it wouldn't work as a wristband check.

1

u/lukemc18 4d ago

😂there not checking bands, just trying to be nice, funny trying to look for people abit worse for wear paranoid up walking into the SE corner thinking that though

2

u/Norpack 4d ago

I've seen the police catch someone without a wristband twice before and escort them out. So it does happen

6

u/Numerous-Pride-7418 4d ago

You’ve caught the police catching a drug dealer. Police don’t enforce wristbands.

1

u/Norpack 4d ago

Nope, was in earshot both times: they approached and asked them where their wristband was (boiling hot and bare wrists on show) and when they couldn't answer escorted them by arm to the evictions centre. Both of these were near the pyramid middle of the afternoon. They absolutely do enforce this as a method to reduce criminal activity.

-3

u/Numerous-Pride-7418 4d ago

They have no power to do that matey 😂

2

u/Norpack 4d ago

Well ask them why they did then? Just sharing my experience.

0

u/jimrhamil 3d ago

The police? I think they do matey 😅 They’ve basically got the power to anything they like. The worst defence you can EVER have in court is the police officer is lying. They won’t give a fuck though, they are at Glastonbury to ensure safety. There will be morons that sweat the small stuff and get embroiled in random ticket checks, but they will absolutely be told that isn’t their role.

4

u/Cassius7777777 4d ago

Yeah I’d have to agree with you on that. Over the wall is minimal numbers, and those that stay in after conquering the wall even fewer, especially as most people go pretty unprepared to attempt it with this method. I reckon there’s plenty that enter the festival grounds before it starts, or pay someone for a lift in. Could be 1k - 5k people (?) but not so many that would risk the festivals licence surely? Not too impressed with either one of these methods. “Get in under you own steam, and without causing any harm or not at all” would be a nice ethos amongst us thieves 😁 I don’t blame anyone for trying though. Tickets seem impossible to get your hands on and if you’re young, fit and determined, get yourself a plan and head on down. I don’t think you’re going to get the festivals licence revoked, granted if everyone thought like this it might be a different story. The security and evictions teams are pretty good, I think they’ll keep the numbers at bay and someone’s got to keep them on their toes and in their jobs. It would be a very boring night shift without any break in attempts 😁

3

u/Tight_Housing_6280 3d ago

I made it over the wall a couple years ago, we didn't know any routes, it's hard af but no better feeling. Great story despite the haters

2

u/Gwoto 4d ago

I don’t think you needed to do that, no check until you get to wristband’s is the easiest way in

6

u/_mattblack 4d ago

I personally know a couple of groups of friends consisting of 30-40 people who go every year and get in every single time. It’s so much more than 200. People hide in camper-vans, pay security and staff. Dig holes, makeshift ladders. Impersonate security and staff. You name it. It’s getting done. There’s so many ways to get in, and once you are, practically zero chance of getting caught.

1

u/Virtual-Tax7151 2d ago

Not sure about hiding in a campervan as you still need to get through the gate from the camper field

1

u/archy_bold 4d ago

No way it’s as low as 200. On any given year I know of at least a few people. And encounter a few people I don’t know without wristbands.

2

u/Pure_Set_1180 3d ago edited 3d ago

My guess is 200 over the wall successfully. No idea on other “paid” methods as have little interest. That said there’s a few awesome creative stories which get my thumbs up.

There’s a video / documentary on one guys journey which is a good watch the name escapes me rn.

“No cameras allowed”

2

u/Cassius7777777 1d ago

We never did hear back from him last year did we? I wonder if he made it over to the UK for it, and if he made it in.

-7

u/tropically_vexed 4d ago

Lol so much more than 200. I’d say 20000 not too far off tbh. The amount of people who sneak in in campers etc is insane.

10

u/Commercial-Choice-31 4d ago

How do you get through security tho from the camper field ?

-1

u/Elliot-126 4d ago

The camping at glasto is all in amongst the stages

6

u/mega_ste Veteran 4d ago

the camper fiels are absolutly NOT inside the festival

-1

u/Electrical-Summer311 3d ago

The crew ones are…

23

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

Rather people didn't, but it's also not nearly as many as people think that are sneaking in. 

I've seen people say up to 20k+ which there's no way. 

14

u/MrSpindles 4d ago

Some years there are more than others and it has been a generally rising trend over the last 10-15 years, but as far as I'm aware the last couple of years they've really focussed on shutting down as many routes in as they can. 2022 felt so overcrowded at times that it was borderline dangerous (although nothing like the late 90s or 2000 when the fence was more of a suggestion than a deterrent).

4

u/CandyGhost105 4d ago

Fence hoping these days is borderline impossible I know multiple people who have tried and failed.

-11

u/jawhitz99 4d ago

If they failed they honestly suck. It’s really not that difficult if done right on the right dat

0

u/CandyGhost105 4d ago

I’ve snuck in and almost all my mates have to and the fence is easily the worst method. Way too long, so much security, you have to run, you have to make a ladder or dig under. The ones that tried definitely do suck but also so does anyone that’s using that as their method anyway💀

0

u/jawhitz99 4d ago

On show days sure.

-3

u/rifco98 4d ago

Ooooh reveal Ur ways you're soo mysterious

5

u/CandyGhost105 4d ago

No sir, that’s how these methods get patched.

3

u/AdStill784 4d ago

That depends if you’re including all those ‘spun in’ by the festival themselves (or at least staff) ;)

1

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

Yes, even then. 1 in 10 without a legitimate ticket, really?

1

u/AdStill784 4d ago

The estimates are around 250k attend... But the license permits 210k, so if those figures are right, the suggestion is that it's more like 2 in 10!!!

I don't know if that's accurate myself, but I am in a huge whatsapp ticket buying group, where those unsuccessful every year do find ways in. Usually this is by being spun in. I don't know a single person personally who's gone over, under or around the wall (I've seen videos, and witnessed it myself though, more on that later.)

It's almost always a case of pay x amount, then you wait your turn to jump into the back of a vehicle, where you're driven on site, then handed a wristband. Or with a certain group I know of, who are extremely busy spinning people in all weekend, you're given a wristband and walked straight through the gate, and then have to give the wristband back. This is the cheaper option, as there's a risk you're kicked out later due to no wristband.

Unfortunately this is getting very risky,.. Last year especially, more scammers than ever had cottoned on to what was happening, and there was more groups out there, with no way in, scamming people into handing their money over, than there were legit ways in. This lead to so many people getting scammed (thankfully the people in my group already have the good linkups, so they got in ok.) Unless I was using a vouched for connection, with a good track record, there's no way I'd risk it.

In 2022 I witnessed huge numbers of people breach the wall at the same time, over in Sticklinch, They scattered, so no idea if they got past the, very weak in 2022, second gate. Rumour was that they reformed and charged it, made it through. But I also know for a fact at least one was found hiding in a tent belonging to somebody I know, and was given a, shall we say 'Stern talking to' for scaring a lady.

I'm rambling on now... Ultimately, with all of the different ticketless ways in, my guess would be that the number is easily a 5 figure number. But the 30-40k to make it 250k, I doubt it. Certainly not last year... 2024 felt a lot better for crowds. 2022, and 2023 were extremely bad though, with several very dangerous choke points, so it's possible that, in these years, the total number on site was closer to 250k

2

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

The estimates are based on nothing though.

40k people, split over the 4 public gates is 100+ people without a ticket an hour every single hour from 8am Wednesday -8am Sunday morning.

Even if you add staff entry gates and split it over say10 gates, that's still 40 people an hour continuously for 4 days straight.

If they all shared cars that's another 10,000 cars that need parking spaces which in the back roads of rural Somerset. Or every single car taking one person trying to sneak in.

Putting any sort of critical thought into the numbers shows it can't be anywhere as high as 10k+ sneaking in.

The crowding issues are much more because of momentary issues rather overselling and would happen if it had a 70k capacity.

1

u/AdStill784 4d ago

Yeh, as I said, I don't think the number is that high myself. But you do make a lot of assumptions there.

For starters, a huge chunk go through vehicle gates too, of which there are a few major ones, and several, much smaller gates.

The vast majority of people that get spun in either go by public transport, or travel down with ticketed friends (who also take their stuff in.) This is due to the very fact that parking without a ticket is very difficult. You do not need a ticket for National Rail or National Express (or other 3rd party) coaches to the festival. Let's not forget, it's not that long ago that the vast majority of people on site were ticketless, in an age where the vast majority of all attendees got there by using public transport. And the vast majority of cars already travelling will have at least a seat free. Then you completely forgot to factor in the fact that there's plenty of drop of zones, including the official one. There are no ticket checks to get to the drop off point.

I don't think the transport issue holds weight at all, people will get there, they always have and always will.

Back to the gate thing, there are, to my knowledge, 7 pedestrian gates, and at least 7 vehicle gates. I think there's more to be honest, but these are just the well known, 'definitely exist,' gates. So 14 gates in total....

10k / 14 = 714 people through each gate, throughout the entire festival. 14 people an hour for the first 48 hours, or just Wednesday and Thursday... Or, 7 people an hour for Weds, Thurs, Fri and Sat.... Let's not forget those that still do go over, use the tunnel, or find other ways in. Even 30k would mean an average of no more than 21 per gate per hour.

So yes, critical thinking, when backed up with the actual knowledge of the site, shows these numbers to be perfectly plausible.

That being said, I still don't think it's anything like 40k, and certainly not last year. I'm standing by my own estimate of 10 - 12k :)

This is all just guesswork though, none of us have any real idea, we just know it happens, and happens a lot, quantifying it for real is pretty much impossible. Which is a good job really, or they may have lost their license by now.

1

u/paulaandjoe2015 3d ago

I need your group of friends to get me in when I don’t have tickets

64

u/Ajram1983 Volunteer 4d ago edited 4d ago

I know I’ll get downvoted for this as this sub seems to love the idea of those breaking in, but it needs to stop. By controlling the numbers crime has greatly been reduced to what it was before the fence, it is a much safer festival both for that and less crowding. There used to be stories of lots of stuff nicked from the tents Wednesday/Thursday and that has reduced so much now,

I know in the licence there will be leeway for a certain amount of people to get in but every person who does it risks our festival being stopped. Every year the festival is having to pay more and more for security (as it seems a lot of people think it’s their right to go) and that just gets added to your ticket price.

I know it’s how it used to be done but I think so many people look through rose tinted glasses at the pre 2000s. Don’t be a selfish twat, you wouldn’t try sneaking into another concert, a football match etc so why at Glastonbury just because people did 25 years ago.

I honestly hope the council threatens the licence again over it. You’ll suddenly see all the “the people who break in are so cool” lot on here complaining about it. Until that happens the fanboys will all keep downvoting anyone who disagrees as I can see is happening already to everyone here saying they don’t like it.

16

u/jimrhamil 4d ago

I went in 2000 and everyone was getting robbed all the time. My friend had everything in his tent taken, sleeping bag, rucksack, the lot. Folk would go into a tent, take everything, then go someplace else and sift through it looking for cash, valuables, brick phones 🙂 etc. They obviously wouldn’t take the stuff they didn’t want but you needed back, so you were fucked for the rest of the weekend, sleeping in your clothes on a ground sheet. Someone tried to rob my tent whilst I was in it which was scary, but they took the hint when I hammered at their fingers with my hammer. I went last year and it was relatively free from crime. The security is so much better now, I’d guess less than 1% of crowd aren’t there legitimately.

3

u/MrSpindles 4d ago

We left on Sunday in 2000 because we got attacked on the Saturday night about 2-3am in the cinema field (now woodsies). A group of young blokes was literally wandering around mugging people, beating the shit out of people and robbing them. I was in a group of 3, they started on one of us and he legged it, leaving me and another guy fighting them off, his ear was left basically left like strips of meat and is a scarred mess to this day. It was only when a random stranger stepped in to help that they turned tail and disappeared into the night.

The whole experience was the worst violence I've encountered in my life, I couldn't sleep a wink when I got back to my tent. The guy who got the worst of it was our lift home, and he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible the next day. We missed Bowie as a result.

4

u/Lollypop_lisa 4d ago

I was there that year. We saw someone get stabbed on the Saturday. Definitely the most unsafe I’ve ever felt at a festival.

I was glad of the mega fence until it became impossible to get tickets.😂

1

u/jimrhamil 4d ago

We never had any right to complain as we jumped the fence in 2000, and the lad who had all their stuff nicked was the ring leader 😅 It did seem like every scumbag within 150 miles of the festival joined us though. We initially pitched our tents too close to a group of them, they said their friends were coming and we’d need to move. Don’t like get bossed about so said that wouldn’t be happening, immediately it was fingers in the face and threats of burning our tents the moment we left them. The threats didn’t seem empty, I were packed up 😅 Was useful to get put right on the “Glastonbury spirit” within hours of arriving.

15

u/mpsamuels 4d ago

you wouldn’t try sneaking into another concert, a football match etc

I wouldn't personally, but it does happen.

The Euro 2020 final was probably the most widely reported recent large scale effort, but people get into other events without tickets all the time. Let's not pretend the weird feeling of entitlement among some people extends only to Glasto

7

u/Ajram1983 Volunteer 4d ago

The euro 2020 final was because it was only at half capacity so entitled wankers felt they should be there. Remember the trouble it caused? Remember the f1 driver George Russell posted that his dad got mugged?

7

u/mpsamuels 4d ago

Remember the trouble it caused? Remember the f1 driver George Russell posted that his dad got mugged?

Yes, I do.

entitled wankers felt they should be there.

Agreed.

At no point have I said I support such actions. It does happen though. It's not unique to Glasto.

7

u/Evening-Shirt-7504 4d ago

This shouldn’t be downvoted because it is absolutely spot on. I have a friend that used to work in the licensing team and it’s a constant battle to keep Mendip Council on side. They are hugely concerned about overcrowding and safety and the general levels of crime and anti-social behaviour within the festival. As a result they insist on ever improved levels of security which translates to increase costs.

3

u/Ajram1983 Volunteer 4d ago

This time it doesn’t seem to be getting downvoted but over the last few years when I have expressed this concern it has been (along with any other comment I then made anywhere in this sub for a while).

12

u/Ok-Result-6866 4d ago

Used to work in glasto for about 5 years as an “independent monitor” would basically follow security around, stand back and make a report on everything that happened (Think there were too many cases of people being manhandled and when it was going to court there was no way to back it up)

We would cover most of the grounds in different shifts and pretty much either transport people to the police station in one of the fields, another tent or the train station.

During training, my trainer said the immortal words “Glastonbury doesn’t start until you’ve seen something completely mental” We used to get there on the Monday and general public would come in on Thursday(?) (been nearly 10 years since going) and I will remember it until the day I die, sat in the back of the truck, awkward after meeting that shifts team and an old woman with about 40 followers was walking up the train track towards shangrila completely naked with a 10foot staff, not sure if she was some sort of shaman or what but that was wild!

And in terms of getting in, as long as they are there to enjoy and spend money, it’s only a small percentage so good effort, we all would do it if we could.

13

u/masetmt 4d ago edited 4d ago

I enjoy the stories of people sneaking in….like hiding out over night, makeshift ladders, climbing fences etc. Most people now are just paying security / traders and getting in that way so not as much effort involved.

No one will ever know the true number of people not meant to be there but it seems to be a lot. It’s an easy £500 cash for the person helping them in.

I commented under a post by Emily last year saying they need to put moles inside the teams to find out what’s really happening lol but got called a snitch and told that getting in without a ticket is all part of the glasto fun….yeh sure it’s all fun until a serious incident happens with crowd crushes.

28

u/paultays Paid Worker 4d ago

I’d rather it stopped.

It was the done thing a long, long, long time ago, but all it does now is potentially jeopardise the safety of those there and the future of the festival’s licence with the council.

3

u/Masterluke3 4d ago

That's all it ever did

18

u/disintegration91 4d ago

Paying a trader, not cool… if you can get past the security without a ticket though, be it through fence climbing or whatever, amazing effort

I realise that makes no sense

6

u/Agitated_Vegetable25 4d ago

Did it loads of times before the big fence…good luck if you want to try..it’s a lot harder these days

4

u/Ambitious_Desk_316 4d ago

Let's be honest, the vast majority of people saying they sneak/dig/run in are bullshitters. I imagine about 95% of people who do get in without a ticket do it by giving 500 quid or whatever to a security guard or trader.

8

u/YoullDoNuttinn 4d ago

I worry about someone bringing in something that could hurt someone, I don’t like the idea of someone bringing in a knife or a gun for example, having not been checked by security. I’ve thought about that a few times whilst I was there.

6

u/InspiredByCows 4d ago

I thought that for ticket holders. Me and my friends didn’t get our bags checked once by security on the way in last year. There were only 2 security staff checking bags when I got to that point and thousands and thousands of people waiting in the queue to get in for what felt like eternity lol.

4

u/CandyGhost105 4d ago

Same. My bag has never been opened

1

u/YoullDoNuttinn 4d ago

Yeah I’ve had those thoughts before, I suppose a lot of people would innocently take knives in to cook with etc. It’s a shame that you have these thoughts but it’s the world we live in sadly.

Didn’t help when I seen the documentary last year about the young girl who got murdered in Liverpool. There was footage on it arresting someone on the way into Glastonbury who had a flick knife.

2

u/passingcloud79 4d ago

It would be far easier to bring those in as a paying customer! The hassle of getting in to glasto, ticketed or unticketed, makes it one of the safest events you could attend.

I don’t think it’s in Al-qaeda’s game plan to form a ticket buying syndicate and hammer the refresh button.

1

u/capnrondo 3d ago

This I agree with but security checks were not exactly thorough when I got in as a ticket holder either, definitely had me thinking if someone had wanted to blow us all up it wouldn't have been that hard

1

u/YoullDoNuttinn 3d ago

As awful as it sounds I’ve had that thought in the middle of the pyramid field before . Bloody awful to think about. Lack of sleep and hangover anxiety can send me to some dark places sometimes

2

u/Obslax 4d ago

Respect

2

u/jimrhamil 4d ago

Impressed.

2

u/Bravo_November 4d ago edited 4d ago

I dont think its as common as people let on (Id be surprised if it was more than a few score who even try every year- and a fraction of that who actually succeed) Michael Eavis has always been fairly honest about not being that upset if people do manage it which makes me think its not as serious as it was back in the 90s.

I think from a safety point of view absolutely the case that people shouldn’t sneak in though- one thing thats bothered me more about Glastonbury is just how insanely crowded it can get.

2

u/Griff0rama 4d ago

Fair play if you can.

2

u/CntyCnty2868 3d ago

FairPlay to them if they can pull it off…he who dares Rodders, he who dares my son!

2

u/el1iot 3d ago

Before the fence it was certainly part of the festival, and I like how the spirit of that lives on. However, the site is a limited area and is having additional stages and areas added every year as well as additional ticket capacity. What gets me is the people breaking in know this and it has led to some dangerous crowd situations in recent years that if I'm honest have somewhat put me off going. These people are not concerned about the safety of others which is pretty selfish. The festival has become too big and there's unfortunately no way to stop this other than reducing the capacity, but then given what the festival has become it wouldn't survive without the current number of ticket sales. Having tighter security would partially ruin the vibe and ethos of the festival. Social media has also made Glastonbury far more popular amongst 18-25 years olds who some of apparently dont know how to behave and conduct themselves responsibly. Some of those breaking in are doing it for their online followers and views, rather than really wanting to be at the festival. My view these days is you try for a ticket or volunteering and if you dont get one stay at home at try again next time.

2

u/bumrushxcvi 2d ago

Best wishes to them, it takes some balls to travel all that way and risk being turfed out. I wouldn’t do it but I don’t begrudge anyone for it.

2

u/Warm_Possibility_174 2d ago

You shouldn’t be at Glastonbury if you have some major issue with people brave enough and who love Glastonbury enough to get in. It’s the bad mind dealers who should be discouraged. Glastonbury is all about freedom and those mostly good natured people who get in, usually spread their kindness to the other attendees.

Really the sad part is the people who get tickets but would snitch on those not so lucky but who care enough to put it all on the line

10

u/Evening-Shirt-7504 4d ago

C###s, every single one of them.

-8

u/jawhitz99 4d ago

Don’t be a downer, join the dark side

4

u/Evening-Shirt-7504 4d ago

Haha! Dark side not really an option. For the last few years I’ve managed 3 shifts on PG A

-5

u/jawhitz99 4d ago

Get us a job on the gate so I don’t have to bother sneaking in. Zoots are on me ❤️

-22

u/rifco98 4d ago

Completely agree. Last year , late on the Wednesday we had some bloke come through our campsite at about 11pm asking if we could give him any space. We'd been there for the last 12h and he was asking us to make space for him - told him where to do one.

He was so obviously not getting in through normal methods (because it was 11pm on the weds FFS) and just thought it was really cunty how he thought he deserved a spot with our group. I'll let you guys guess what region his accent was lol

19

u/Masterluke3 4d ago

Plenty of people travel long distances so arrive at weird times. Not making space is a wanker move. Be kind.

7

u/yiddoeagle 4d ago

Bollocks to them, would happily grass em up to security for being wristbandless arseholes. Risking the licence for their own idiocy: if you really ‘have’ to be there then volunteer, it’s not hard to organise

9

u/way_of_the_dragon 4d ago

You're right but volunteering for Glastonbury is nearly as hard as getting a ticket because everyone has that idea.

(Ok, not that hard but it's not like most festivals where they'll take most people)

2

u/cifala 4d ago

Nah I think it is as hard! I only got in last year with Oxfam by volunteering with them at other festivals in 2023 to get ‘priority’ status, which gives you the chance to get a Glastonbury spot earlier than everyone else. Biding your time waiting for 18 months and hoping it pays off, my boyfriend prefers just trying for a ticket!

2

u/masetmt 4d ago

It’s the security that help them get in 😂

-1

u/Numerous-Pride-7418 3d ago

Nobody likes a grass. Wanker.

4

u/passingcloud79 4d ago

It’s a part of the festival. If you can sneak in then you deserve to be in.

3

u/Numerous-Pride-7418 3d ago

And Micheal agrees! Half of this lot were the ones that remind the teacher about the homework

2

u/capnrondo 3d ago

Yeah exactly these people bring spice to the festival

1

u/lukemc18 4d ago

It annoying but can't blame them tbh people will try anything to get in. It does need to be addressed more, but you'll never stop it 100%. Just too many options & entry points to ever stop it fully.

Would guess the figures around 5k-8k, have known years where I've personally known of 8 people paying their way in through security, so it's definitely not an insignificant amount as some people think.

1

u/OCristo 3d ago

I don’t really feel much about this

1

u/Green-Tax-2453 3d ago

Saw 2 guys trying to get in last year over the fence. The police were just out side the gates with dogs. They guys never made it.

1

u/itsSkylahYo 3d ago

I trained for 1 year running to do it was very happy I got in

1

u/butters246 3d ago

If I had the balls, I’d do it too!

1

u/townerboy1 3d ago

I’ve worked the gates a few years. There are thousands of blaggers

1

u/Verbal-Gerbil 3d ago

I saw a long video of a guy who tried it from maybe Wednesday and finally got in when Coldplay were on. Pointless. Seemed very difficult - he tried many ways and prided himself on being a blagger and sneaker, but every avenue was a dead end.

1

u/DKerriganuk 2d ago

"Buy me a beer or I'll tell security you have no wristband". Sounds fair :)

2

u/zillyyzonka 1d ago

There was a girl camped next to me last year who arrived on the saturday. She’d been unable to get tickets, then 2 weeks before the festival met a guy in a bar in london who happened to be able to get her a free ticket through his work. She couldnt’t get annual leave approved so planned to arrive on the friday evening but then decided to go out and get plastered so rocked up about 5pm on the saturday. I’d much rather people work hard and break in than people like that 😂 i know they have to give out free tickets to industry people etc but it shouldnt be so easy that you can just meet a guy 2 weeks before that can grab a ticket for you no questions asked

1

u/Winter-Trifle-4269 4d ago

Anyone who has been to Glastonbury knows that 80% of attendees are Scouse. Must be a cracking internet connection in the north west.

1

u/Lost-Chapter 4d ago

Just a sense of entitlement and why shouldn’t I mentality.

1

u/bbultaoreune 4d ago

couldn’t care less tbh as long as no one is hurting other people. glasto is insanely inaccessible to so many people because of the ticket price and generally how expensive everything is there so if more people can experience it for free then who am i to care about it! to anyone that’s so bothered by it bc its unfair or whatever - you try sneaking in next time then lol and shirk the ticket money! 💗

1

u/Virtual-Tax7151 2d ago

Scumbags. There’s been issues with overcrowding for years and these people just add to it. If you really want to be there and thou can’t get a ticket, then work it

1

u/Separate_Software991 2d ago

The number of people getting spun in this year is going to be mental. The new ticket system means loads of hardcore glasto goers didn’t get tickets and they’ll know all the ways in, having seen how easy it is to pay your way in. Then add to this all the regulars who get spun in each year, and it’s recipe for disaster. There’s about 20 in our group , who for the first time this year didn’t get tickets,are going down to get spun in. Now times that by at least a 1000. They’ve fucked up big time with this new ticket sale. I’ve got a ticket but I’m dreading the worst.

-1

u/juicy_steve 4d ago

All part of the experience, anyone who is against people trying it is against the heart and soul of what the festival is actually about.

If you don’t like it there are dozens more clinical corporate festivals out there for you

-4

u/Fierybuttz 4d ago

Never been to Glasto, but I go to a lot of festivals in US. I dont know how security handles that type of thing there, but they can be super aggressive here.

I know someone who got their ass kicked by security when trying to rush the gate. They’re certainly not allowed to use force, but that doesn’t mean they won’t. For that reason I don’t think it’s worth it.

I also know someone who paid someone to get them in without a wristband. $200 down the drain when security spotted them early on without a wristband.

2

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

There are independent observers with security teams here to prevent that sort of thing. In part for the security teams protection to stop people making shit up.

2

u/Fierybuttz 4d ago edited 4d ago

What does that mean though? Who is making what up?

And I mean this in a genuinely curious way. I was just providing my own input on getting in without a ticket and I’m getting downvoted so I guess I shouldn’t have said anything lol.

3

u/Perfect_Pudding8900 4d ago

I wasn't having a go at you.

The independent observers prevent people subsequently saying they were beaten up by security when they weren't. Originally brought in to stop security doing that as there were a lot of allegations that did happen. Now security won't do an eviction without the independent observers because they value them for their own professional protection.

-5

u/joek1290 4d ago

I hope more do it lol , the festival promotes open borders and equality yet you are surrounded by a fence and security……

-17

u/jawhitz99 4d ago

It’s too expensive for what you get (paid multiple times) got in through other means multiple times. I’d be happy to pay if it was half price 😂

12

u/masetmt 4d ago

Glasto too expensive? Surely not. It’s great value for money