The team can’t wait to welcome you back for 2025!
Below is some information we think will be useful please take some time to read it.
Arriving by car or motorcycle?
A width restriction exists on the Chetwynd Bridge (A38 junction with the A513 for Rugeley/Tamworth/Alrewas). This junction and bridge remain our primary route for cars and motorcycles but prevents access for most campervans and caravans.
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: Directions & Travel Information | Bearded Theory choose the one that is most suitable for your starting location. All vehicles that are not cars or motorcycles, please follow the directional advice for campervans/caravans – you will be able to access the car parks without issue.
Arriving with a caravan/campervan?
All live in vehicle passes have been posted out in advance if you haven’t received yours, please get in touch with us ASAP at info@beardedtheory.co.uk . The additional Wednesday add on early entry campervan pass is an e-ticket, please download this from your original confirmation.
A restriction exists on the Chetwynd Bridge (A38 junction with the A513 for Rugeley/Tamworth/Alrewas). No campervans or caravans will be permitted to cross the Chetwynd Bridge. Prescribed routes for campervans and caravans have been declared and can be viewed here: Directions & Travel Information 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).
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.
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.
Don’t forget to clearly display your campervan stickers in your windscreen, have your tickets ready and follow the instructions from the traffic marshals.
PLEASE PLAN YOUR JOURNEY AND BE PREPARED FOR DELAYS.
Arriving by public transport?
The festival will be operating a £15 shuttle bus from Tamworth Train Station. The service will run between 11am – 2pm and 4pm – 7pm on Thursday, with a return service between 7.30am and 12pm on Monday morning. Don’t forget the traffic will be heavy leaving the festival on Monday morning, please plan enough time to get your connecting train for your journey home. More travel information can be found here: Directions & Travel Information | Bearded Theory and tickets can be booked here: Bearded Theory 2025 – Catton Park
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 is by advance add-on ticket only, available here: www.alttickets.com/bearded-theory-tickets
- Festival gates will open on Wednesday 21st 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 add on ticket.
- A Wednesday add on ticket is only valid with a full Weekend pass and or a full campervan ticket.
- Upon arrival, your Wednesday add on ticket and your full weekend ticket will be scanned and you will receive your wristband to allow you access to the festival site for the full weekend. All Wednesday add on tickets are e-tickets.
- 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 and your Wednesday add on ticket.
- All cars/campervans/caravans/motorbikes staying on site will need a vehicle pass.
- Campervans, caravans and hook ups purchased will need an add on Wednesday ticket if you are arriving on Wednesday. This ticket is an additional ticket to your purchased full price campervan ticket. It only allows access to the power hook up area if that’s what you have paid full price for.
General entry advice
- Festival gates open for all on Thursday 22nd 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, don’t rely on your Wi-Fi as it may not work.
- 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
All Cars and motorcycles need a car parking ticket; a weekend and camping ticket does not include vehicle parking. You can pre-book your car parking space for £30.00 here: Bearded Theory 2025 – Catton Park Alternatively, car parking passes will be available on the day for £35.00 (cash only). 1 pass is needed for the whole weekend. Sleeping in any vehicle in the car park is prohibited.
Have your parking pass ready to be scanned on entry to the car parks and follow the instructions from our marshals.
Blue Badge car parking
Please book a general car parking ticket and additionally 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 (remember last year!)
- Suncream & hats (will be needed this year!)
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.
Bars & Food vendors
This year we will be operating 6 bars throughout the main festival arena, serving at all the main stages, plus the Black Iris beer garden. The bars will be open from midday, Wednesday to Sunday. You can bring alcohol for personal consumption into the arena, but Bearded Theory relies financially on the bar take. Please, please help to support the festival by spending money at the bars. There are also a wide range of food vendors on site this year.
You can view the full list of traders and Brewer information on the Bearded Theory website here: www.beardedtheory.co.uk/explore/food/
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 £15.00. Or you can purchase a program on its own for £10.00. Official Bearded Theory merchandise will be available to purchase from our Merch stall in the main arena. Look for the festival merch tent next to the Pallet Stage.
Wi-Fi
Free wi-fi hotspots will be available at our bars this year, excluding Big Ed’s Bar and the Black Iris Beer Garden.
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: 21-24 May 2026
- Arrange to meet friends old and new, same place in 2026!
- Join the mailing list to hear all our future news: beardedtheory.co.uk/contact-us/sign-up/
- Sit back and relax, 2026 tickets will be released late summer.
More information can be found at www.beardedtheory.co.uk/about/faqs/
