Reading Festival’s bid to extend music licence for Thursday night met with noise concerns

The bid made by Reading Festival to extend its music license for Thursday night had been met with objections from local residents over noise concerns. READ MORE: Reading & Leeds boss talks biggest-ever arena overhaul and “strength of UK and Irish music” on line-up: “We’re buzzing with ideas for the future” It was announced back in July that organisers of the dual festival had applied for a licensing change, which would allow acts to perform on a Thursday, making the festival a four-day event. Usually, Wednesdays and Thursdays are seen as warm-up days, where festivalgoers can head to the site and set up for things kicking off on Friday and running until Sunday each August bank holiday weekend. In the report last month from BBC News, organisers Festival Republic applied for amplified music to be added to the licence for Thursdays, on the main stage only, taking place between 5pm and midnight. If approved by Reading Borough Council, the change could come into effect from 2027. This year’s festival runs from 27-30 August. Its sister festival in Leeds – which takes place on the same weekend – already has permission to perform music on a Thursday, and will do so for the first time th...