GALA 2026

[Blah Blah]

Licensing application for 2026 has gone in and they want to extend the event from 4 to 7 days accross two weekends. 

There are some proposed significant changes to be aware of:

 

Event proposal moves to two separate weekends

Number of days of the festival moves from 4 to 7 meaning also a change in the original licence is required

Expected footfall in the park over the two weekends around 60,000. 

 

Dear Peckham Rye Park Stakeholder,

 

Re: STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION – event application: ‘GALA and On The Rye Festival 2026’ – ref: SWKEVE000935

 

We are writing to you because you have previously identified yourself as someone who wishes to be informed about event applications for Peckham Rye Park, or we think that you might have an interest in knowing about this particular event application.

 

Please be aware that the council are in receipt of an event application for: GALA and On The Rye Festival 2026’

 

In line with the council’s Outdoor Events Policy and events application process we are carrying out consultation regarding this application.

 

The following reference documents are attached to this email:

 

1. Consultation information
2. APPENDIX A – site plan weekend 1
3. APPENDIX B – site plan weekend 2
4. APPENDIX C – Production Schedule
5. APPENDIX D – 2025 Noise Management Plan

 

The consultation is open from Tuesday 4 November and will close at midnight on Tuesday 2 December 2025

 

Community engagement sessions will take place on Wednesday 19 November.

 

If you would like to comment on application: SWKEVE000935 and take part in the online consultation, please visit:

 

www.southwark.gov.uk/GALA2026

 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

 

Kind Regards,
Southwark Events Team

Environment and Leisure

PO Box 64529
London

SE1P 5LX

020 7525 3639

@SouthwarkEvents

APPENDIX A - SITE PLAN weekend 1.pdf APPENDIX B - SITE PLAN weekend 2.pdf APPENDIX C - PRODUCTION SCHEDULE.pdf

And just to add that councillor Renata Hamvas chairs the licensing committee. Worth contacting her with views on ammendments to the original license. I am fairly sure she won't grant any amendments, but just in case.....

[first mate]

Surprise, surprise. It didn't take them long, did it. This will be something of a test as to how much the council really care about parks and the environment. A footfall of 60,000. Are they mad? There is no way this park is designed for or can sustain that sort of use.

Just had a look at the schedule. If allowed to go ahead, this will involve a large slice of the park (not the common) sectioned off and out of use for three weeks of May and the first week of June.

Here's an idea, why not trial the festival in one of the other Southwark Parks, so the 'goodness' can be shared around the borough?

Edited Wednesday at 14:03 by first mate

[Dulwichway]

Regardless of what the majority think, (although they never get a voice in any council matters) the council will go ahead with this regardless. Wonga! 

[Gooseygreeny]

I live right next to the Rye and literally never notice any negatives of Gala. Another week sounds lovely for the people that enjoy it. 

Also I have a PhD in ecology and can confirm that the rye is providing virtually no environmental benefits. It's almost entirely grass. 

[first mate]

There are lots of trees, shrubs, a pond and a large area of wild grass all of it which are habitat for a range of flora and fauna.

Do you mean the common- that is mostly grass, some of it laid over an old car park? However, the festival won't use that bit, they prefer to be "nestled" within the park (more aesthetically pleasing for festival goers, who like to be 'at one with nature' while they enjoy the booming bass, and great marketing for the festival owners who can also use the plentiful trees as a sound barrier- it saves them forking out to mitigate the noise.

[Blah Blah]

9 hours ago, first mate said:

Surprise, surprise. It didn't take them long, did it. This will be something of a test as to how much the council really care about parks and the environment. A footfall of 60,000. Are they mad? There is no way this park is designed for or can sustain that sort of use.

Just had a look at the schedule. If allowed to go ahead, this will involve a large slice of the park (not the common) sectioned off and out of use for three weeks of May and the first week of June.

Here's an idea, why not trial the festival in one of the other Southwark Parks, so the 'goodness' can be shared around the borough?

Every year they ask for more and every year it is an exhausting process pushing back on that for local residents and councillors. What annoys me is that at the post event consultation/ feedback this year, I specifically asked them if the rumours around applying for two weekends next year were true. They told me no. So that was a lie. Anyway, we go again. 

[first mate]

13 hours ago, Blah Blah said:

I specifically asked them if the rumours around applying for two weekends next year were true. They told me no. So that was a lie. Anyway, we go again. 

So that suggests the consultations with 'community' are just a tick box exercise where information given cannot be relied on. Not a good look.

I hope Renata Hamvas who is the local councillor, as well as licensing, finds a way to stop the wholesale, spreadingmonetisation of an important green space in summer. If they get this it'll end up like Brockwell Park before you know it.

[Peckham native]

On 05/11/2025 at 17:34, Gooseygreeny said:

I live right next to the Rye and literally never notice any negatives of Gala. Another week sounds lovely for the people that enjoy it. 

Also I have a PhD in ecology and can confirm that the rye is providing virtually no environmental benefits. It's almost entirely grass. 

This may be somewhat out of date but virtually no environmental benefit & almost entirely grass... really?

https://www.gigl.org.uk/sinc/sobi09/

Description

Peckham Rye was established as an open space in the late 19th century and includes several valuable habitat features spread across the park. The park is a Grade II Listed landscape, and has recently been restored with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund. A small community garden within the site is managed by the Friends of Peckham Rye. Peckham Rye Park won a Green Flag Award again for 2022. The site is used by the Southwark Health Walks project as part of a Walking the Way to Health (WHI) scheme.

Wildlife

This large park has several valuable habitat features. The most important of these is the only remaining above-ground section of the River Peck and the most natural stream in the borough. The stream is heavily shaded by native, unmanaged wet woodland dominated by alder, ash and pedunculated oak with a ground cover of pendulous sedge and bramble. Alder dominated woodland is a rare habitat in Southwark. Although somewhat altered with weirs, other artificial structures and ornamental planting, some sections are still in their natural banks and includes yellow flag, watercress, water figwort and cuckooflower. The largest of three ponds supports marginal vegetation including hemp agrimony. A variety of waterfowl nest on the wooded island, including tufted duck, coot, Canada goose and mallard. Substantial flocks of gulls visit the park in winter and bats are likely to forage over the water. Small blocks of predominantly native woodland, mostly on the boundary between the Park and the Common, are dominated by oak and ash with a well-developed understory, but sparse ground flora. Spring bulbs have been planted in previous years. These and several dense shrubberies support a good bird population and small numbers of pipistrelle bats are present. Infrequently mown grassland is located in one large area and was seeded in 2009. It's composition includes giant fescue, ladies bedstraw, meadowsweet, black knapweed and wild carrot. The rest of the park consists of amenity grassland with some fine mature trees.