Dear Friends and Chilled family,
We know you will have been following the news and seeing the development of Covid-19 and will have concerns regarding how this is going to play out along with the impact this will have for you personally as well as within your wider communities and globally.
We share those concerns and whilst we know that this pandemic will pass and things will return to normal, we need to make some decisions now with the information we have to hand. The most significant decision is whether we can go ahead with the festival this year.
The reality of a small festival such as ours is that we do not have any cash reserves - being a ‘not for profit’ event means just that. We break even year on year from ticket sales and bar takings. Sadly, last year we just didn’t cover the programme of great music and activities we include in the ticket price - even with all our crew volunteering - and are carrying forward a loss.
We will need to start paying out deposits to our suppliers soon and if we are unable to go ahead those deposits will be forfeit. We do not have insurance for this unprecedented situation and the three directors will be personally liable for the financial losses - we just cannot run that risk. We rely on a steady cash flow from ticket sales to ensure those deposits are covered and with the current public health threat, ticket sales have, understandably, slowed to a halt.
We also have to consider our demographic and appreciate that with children being off school for the foreseeable future, families may struggle to come up with the money in the next few months to really enjoy themselves this summer, and putting extra pressure on families to do just that is inconsiderate. We had hoped that we would be the antidote to all this and could provide some relief against this backdrop, but we cannot predict where we will be by July and the longer we delay the more uncertainty we create for all our suppliers and contributors that also support us in our endeavours.
We are postponing the event until the same time next year and want to assure you that we will accommodate your needs by refunding your ticket money - please get in touch if this is the case. However, we would ask you, where possible, not to request a refund and we will roll your tickets over to next year. For anyone that rolls over their tickets, we will also offer additional benefits as a ‘Friend of the Festival’ by way of saying THANK YOU for your continued support during these difficult times.
As a “Friend of the Festival” we will provide you with a fast track entrance to the festival next year ensuring you can bagsie your favourite camping spots along with a free Chilled in a Field reusable cup.
You can also help out by purchasing tickets for next year using our deposit scheme, securing tickets at the current prices and spreading the cost over the next 12 months.
If you have booked one of our glamping packages, please also consider rolling your booking over to next year. If you do however, need a refund, please get in touch with them directly and they will be able to sort this out for you.
Postponing gives us all the ability to recover physically, emotionally and financially and a chance to bounce back with a zest for fun and frolics with the stress of this current situation firmly behind us.
This decision has not been taken lightly and is really heartbreaking for all our amazing coordinators and volunteers who work so hard to put on such a spectacular event. But we would rather secure the future of the event for years to come than risk collapse this year due to financial pressures in such uncertain times.
Thank you for your continued support - stay safe and well so we can throw some shapes in a field next year!
The Chilled in a Field Team
We know you will have been following the news and seeing the development of Covid-19 and will have concerns regarding how this is going to play out along with the impact this will have for you personally as well as within your wider communities and globally.
We share those concerns and whilst we know that this pandemic will pass and things will return to normal, we need to make some decisions now with the information we have to hand. The most significant decision is whether we can go ahead with the festival this year.
The reality of a small festival such as ours is that we do not have any cash reserves - being a ‘not for profit’ event means just that. We break even year on year from ticket sales and bar takings. Sadly, last year we just didn’t cover the programme of great music and activities we include in the ticket price - even with all our crew volunteering - and are carrying forward a loss.
We will need to start paying out deposits to our suppliers soon and if we are unable to go ahead those deposits will be forfeit. We do not have insurance for this unprecedented situation and the three directors will be personally liable for the financial losses - we just cannot run that risk. We rely on a steady cash flow from ticket sales to ensure those deposits are covered and with the current public health threat, ticket sales have, understandably, slowed to a halt.
We also have to consider our demographic and appreciate that with children being off school for the foreseeable future, families may struggle to come up with the money in the next few months to really enjoy themselves this summer, and putting extra pressure on families to do just that is inconsiderate. We had hoped that we would be the antidote to all this and could provide some relief against this backdrop, but we cannot predict where we will be by July and the longer we delay the more uncertainty we create for all our suppliers and contributors that also support us in our endeavours.
We are postponing the event until the same time next year and want to assure you that we will accommodate your needs by refunding your ticket money - please get in touch if this is the case. However, we would ask you, where possible, not to request a refund and we will roll your tickets over to next year. For anyone that rolls over their tickets, we will also offer additional benefits as a ‘Friend of the Festival’ by way of saying THANK YOU for your continued support during these difficult times.
As a “Friend of the Festival” we will provide you with a fast track entrance to the festival next year ensuring you can bagsie your favourite camping spots along with a free Chilled in a Field reusable cup.
You can also help out by purchasing tickets for next year using our deposit scheme, securing tickets at the current prices and spreading the cost over the next 12 months.
If you have booked one of our glamping packages, please also consider rolling your booking over to next year. If you do however, need a refund, please get in touch with them directly and they will be able to sort this out for you.
Postponing gives us all the ability to recover physically, emotionally and financially and a chance to bounce back with a zest for fun and frolics with the stress of this current situation firmly behind us.
This decision has not been taken lightly and is really heartbreaking for all our amazing coordinators and volunteers who work so hard to put on such a spectacular event. But we would rather secure the future of the event for years to come than risk collapse this year due to financial pressures in such uncertain times.
Thank you for your continued support - stay safe and well so we can throw some shapes in a field next year!
The Chilled in a Field Team
Grown from the '90's London party scene we're a small, independent Sussex festival for grown up party people and their kids. With free activities for children and adults all day, bands, musicians, artists, science, theatre, performances and awesome dance music from some of the UK's top independent labels. A festival bar featuring local ales and dozens of ciders, mountains of street food, our not-for-profit festival shop, free hot showers, proper clean toilets, glamping and campervan pitches.
We're a not-for-profit social enterprise run completely by volunteers, so you can really feel the love.
Tickets are capped - to keep the festival feeling small and lovely - and we sell out every year. We're a fun, safe family festival, and we take our green credentials seriously. Bring friends, bring children, and see for yourself!
We can't wait to play all day and dance all night in a field with you!
We're a not-for-profit social enterprise run completely by volunteers, so you can really feel the love.
Tickets are capped - to keep the festival feeling small and lovely - and we sell out every year. We're a fun, safe family festival, and we take our green credentials seriously. Bring friends, bring children, and see for yourself!
We can't wait to play all day and dance all night in a field with you!
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"This not-for-profit social enterprise makes good clean fun for families." - Top 25 Summer Festivals
The Guardian
"Comfort and creativity enrich everything in a way that many larger festivals have long forgotten."
Five stars! *****
The Argus
"Small but perfectly formed. It’s quirky, fun really affordable and we would heartily recommend it."
Visit Chislehurst
"It felt like one big community who have come together for one weekend with everyone looking out for each other."
Dartford Living
"Mums and dads who share a love of dance music with their kids should give this festival a try."
Top 10 Family Festivals
Daily Mirror
The Guardian
"Comfort and creativity enrich everything in a way that many larger festivals have long forgotten."
Five stars! *****
The Argus
"Small but perfectly formed. It’s quirky, fun really affordable and we would heartily recommend it."
Visit Chislehurst
"It felt like one big community who have come together for one weekend with everyone looking out for each other."
Dartford Living
"Mums and dads who share a love of dance music with their kids should give this festival a try."
Top 10 Family Festivals
Daily Mirror
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