Bristol Harbour Festival 2023 outlines alcohol rules…

Bristol Harbour Festival 2023 outlines alcohol rules and food stalls this year

Tens of thousands of people will flock to Bristol city centre next week for the Bristol Harbour Festival. As one of the biggest public events in the UK, many people will be looking forward to the festival's new look this year, now with five new performance areas.

Many will be eager to celebrate the triumphant return of one of Bristol's biggest festivals this year after its huge success in 2022 for the 50th anniversary. Patrons will be able to toast this celebration at the festival bars with a number of beers, ales and other drinks available. But what are the rules on alcohol this year? What food stalls will be available in the new festival areas?

Is alcohol banned?

In previous years, people have brought their own drinks into the festival areas around the city. However, festival organisers have previously discouraged this for safety reasons, and this year, measures will be put in place to encourage sensible drinking.

There are five performance areas at Bristol Harbour Festival 2023. Circus Playground at College Green is not permitting people to bring their own alcohol into the area and will be operating searches, but there will be bars to purchase alcohol from there.

Music Quarter, a new area in Queen Square, will not be checking for alcohol as it had done in previous years. Harbour View at the Lloyds Amphitheatre and Jelli Shack in Millenium Square will both follow suit and all will have bars dotted around the arenas. The festival has said attendees can help ensure the event remains free in the future by helping to support the food and drink stalls across the site.

Organisers are also urging people to not bring glass bottles to the event to ensure crowds are kept safe. Recycling bins are being provided in every location to cater for cans and plastic bottles as well as plenty being positioned by the harbourside.

Traders are not permitted to sell alcohol for consumption on site as the festival has a separate bar concession contract already in place. The sale of off-sale alcohol requires prior written permission and will also be required to apply for a Temporary Event Notice prior to the event.