The Bearded Theory team can’t wait to welcome you back for our 2024 festival. Please find some further information about your event below.
Arriving by car or motorcycle?
An additional width restriction has been placed on the Chetwynd Bridge (A38 junction with the A513 for Rugeley/Tamworth/Alrewas). This junction and bridge remains our primary route for cars but prevents access for campervans and caravans. This year there are also multiple scheduled roadworks taking place in the area which may delay your journey.
Standard cars and motorcycles should follow directions towards Catton Park (DE12 8LL) until you see our festival event road signage. From there, turn off your sat nav and follow the AA routing signs. Please do not follow your sat nav when approaching the festival site due to another very narrow bridge in Walton-upon-Trent.
If you are travelling in any vehicle that is not a car or motorcycle, please thoroughly read through the routes on our website: www.beardedtheory.co.uk/about/directions/ and choose the one that is most suitable for your starting location. All vehicles that are not cars or motorcycle, please follow the directional advice for campervans/caravans – you will be able to access the car parks without issue.
Arriving with a caravan/campervan?
Please refer to our previous communication regarding your travel to the festival. An additional width restriction has been placed on the Chetwynd Bridge (A38 junction with the A513 for Rugeley/Tamworth/Alrewas). This year there are also multiple scheduled roadworks taking place in the area which may delay your journey.
No campervans or caravans will be permitted to cross the Chetwynd Bridge, which will be enforced without exception throughout the days of Bearded Theory (22nd-27th May 2024). Prescribed routes for campervans and caravans have been declared and can be viewed here: www.beardedtheory.co.uk/about/directions/
From each of these points, event signage will direct you safely to the festival site (all caravans should follow ‘campervan’ signage as the same rules will apply).
Some sat navs will suggest multiple routes to a fixed postcode. Based on your starting location, please choose the most appropriate route which avoids both the Chetwynd Bridge (A38 junction with the A513 for Rugeley/Tamworth/Alrewas) and the Walton-on-Trent Bailey Bridge (Station Lane).
Please be aware that the waypoint postcodes are simply road locations where you can pick up and follow the event signage from. They are not safe areas to stop and meet up with others.
Please keep driving with the flow of the traffic and avoid stopping or pulling over. The police will be enforcing a tow away zone for any pulled over vehicles.
Please have your tickets ready and follow the instructions of the traffic marshals.
PLEASE PLAN YOUR JOURNEY AND BE PREPARED FOR DELAYS.
Arriving by public transport?
The festival will be operating a £5 shuttle bus from Tamworth Train Station between 11am and 5pm on Thursday, with a returning service between 7:30am and 12pm on Monday morning. Traffic is likely to be heavy when leaving site so plan enough time for your journey back to the station. Advance tickets only, available here: www.alttickets.com/bearded-theory-tickets
Other train stations close to Catton Park are Lichfield and Burton-on-Trent, from there you can get a taxi to the festival where we will have a designated drop-off point. Likewise, if you’re getting a lift from someone, you can follow the festival road signs to the drop off point.
Arriving on Wednesday?
This year to alleviate pressures on the road network, we are opening on Wednesday 22nd May. This is by advance add-on ticket only, available here: www.alttickets.com/bearded-theory-tickets
- Festival gates will open on Wednesday 22nd May at 9am for Wednesday ticket holders. Please do not arrive before this time. Please do not arrive on Wednesday unless you have a Wednesday ticket.
- A Wednesday ticket is only valid with a full Weekend pass.
- Upon arrival, your Wednesday ticket and your full weekend ticket will both be scanned and you will receive your wristband to allow you access to the festival site for the full weekend.
- Please download, print, or screenshot your e-tickets & passes before you leave home and have them ready in advance of your arrival to speed up queue times.
- Please do not travel in a campervan unless you have pre-booked a campervan pass. Our campervan fields are fully booked.
- All cars/campervans/caravans/motorbikes staying on site will need a vehicle pass.
General entry advice
- Festival gates open for all on Thursday 23rd May at 9am.
- Please do not arrive before this time.
- Entry to the site will be available from Thursday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm.
- Please download, print, or screenshot your e-tickets & passes before you leave home and have them ready in advance of your arrival to speed up queue times.
- Please do not travel in a campervan unless you have pre-booked a campervan pass. Our campervan fields are fully booked.
- All cars/campervans/caravans/motorbikes staying on site will need a vehicle pass.
Car parking
You can pre-book your car parking space for £26.75 here: https://bit.ly/44WJyWO Alternatively, car parking passes will be available on the day for £30 (cash only). Sleeping in any vehicle in the car park is prohibited.
Blue Badge car parking
Please book a car parking ticket and display your blue badge. Stewards will direct you to blue badge parking situated near to the main wristband exchange entrance.
What to bring and what not to bring
DO BRING:
- Tickets – downloaded/printed or screenshot ready to be scanned.
- Credit or debit card, or phone payment methods
- Cash, but not too much for your own security! (a cash point is available on site if you prefer to use cash)
- Portable phone chargers
- Ear protection, especially for little people
- Clothing & footwear that is suitable for all weather (you never know with the UK!)
- Suncream & hats (fingers crossed we’ll need them!)
DON’T BRING:
- Large amounts of cash
- Tents that are bigger than you need, smaller tents = more space for all!
- Disposable BBQs, campfires, firepits & braziers
- Everything including the kitchen sink, travel light, you know it makes sense!
- Prohibited items: glass, fireworks, Chinese lanterns, weapons, unauthorised soundsystems or personal generators, diesel, petrol or fuel containers, illegal drugs, drones, animals (except assistance pets), goods for sale, air horns, laser pens.
Food vendors
There are a wide range of food vendors on site this year, you can view the full list on the Bearded Theory website here: www.beardedtheory.co.uk/explore/food/
Bars
This year we will be operating 6 bars throughout the main festival arena, serving at all the main stages. The bars will be open from midday, Wednesday to Sunday. You will be allowed to bring your own alcohol into the arena, but we ask that you please help to support the festival to keep the ticket price down by spending money at the bars. Brewer information can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/bdvwrcw6
Programmes & Merch
Please support the festival by buying our official merch and programmes. Our official festival programmes will be available to purchase from the merch stand and from our hawkers around the site. The official souvenir book includes a festival site map, set times, other information for the weekend and will be available as a package with the lanyard for £10. A limited number of lanyards will be available for £5 on their own. Official Bearded Theory merchandise will be available to purchase from Merch stall in the main arena. Look out for the festival merch tent next to the Pallet Stage.
Wi-Fi
Free wi-fi hotspots will be available at all 5 of our main bars this year.
Follow along!
We’ll be sharing exclusive content throughout the weekend on facebook.com/beardedtheoryfest and instagram.com/beardedtheoryfestival, join in the fun and follow along – and make sure you tag us in all your pics!
Going home
- The site closes on Monday at midday.
- Plan your departure time, try and avoid the mid-morning rush!
- Make sure you have food and drink for the journey, especially if you have kids in tow.
- Collect up all your belongings and please use the bins provided for your rubbish.
- Be patient, allow plenty of time to get home, drive carefully.
Save the date: May 22nd – 25th 2025
Join the mailing list to hear all our future news: www.beardedtheory.co.uk/contact-us/sign-up/
More information can be found at www.beardedtheory.co.uk/about/faqs/
