Burberry, £10k bell tents and Michelin-starred meals: How the great British festival got bougie

A British festival used to be an assault on the senses. The acrid stench of a portaloo. Bad music from a tinny Bluetooth speaker ringing through the campsite until 6am. Pounding rain on coats you realise far too late are not, and never were, waterproof. The sight of a person’s jaw in a position that seems to defy biology. Warm, flat beer.

Nowadays, a British festival can be a very pleasant experience, almost entirely devoid of discomfort. Some festivals might even offer you a life more luxurious than what’s waiting for you at home.