The Northern Area Licensing Sub Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Tuesday 13 January 2026 to consider an application for a premises licence for GemFest, located at Charlton Park, Malmesbury. The meeting's agenda focused on the details of this application, including representations received from local residents and parish councils.

Application for a Premises Licence for GemFest

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the application for a premises licence for GemFest, submitted by Gemfestival Ltd. The application sought to permit a range of licensable activities, including plays, films, live and recorded music, performances of dance, and anything similar, as well as late-night refreshment and the sale of alcohol. The proposed hours for these activities extended into the early morning, with music and alcohol sales potentially continuing until 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights, and the premises remaining open to the public until 2:00 pm on the following Monday. The application also proposed a phased increase in the maximum capacity of the event, starting at 8,000 attendees in 2026 and potentially rising to 14,999 in subsequent years.

The report pack detailed that 11 relevant representations had been received concerning this application: nine in objection and two in support. The objections, primarily from local residents and parish councils including Charlton, Hankerton, and Oaksey, centred on the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance, citing concerns about excessive noise, particularly low-frequency bass from music, and audible bad language from performers. Some representations also raised concerns regarding public safety, including issues with pedestrian safety on local roads and potential drug-related activity. The supporting representations, from local residents, highlighted positive experiences from the 2025 GemFest event, noting professional security, good site management, and a lack of anti-social behaviour or disturbance.

The agenda also included appendices detailing the application form itself, a memo from Damaris Broad, Environmental Health Officer, outlining why no representation was made by that department, and the full text of the opposing and supporting representations. A map indicating the locations of those who made representations was also provided.

Further documents available to the committee included the Gemfest 2025 NMP redacted report, which detailed the noise management activities undertaken during the previous year's event, and an Explanation of Applicants submission which summarised the applicant's case. The Community Engagement Plan and Event Management Plan for GemFest 2026 were also provided, outlining the applicant's proposed strategies for managing the event and engaging with the local community. The Licensing Officers Report provided an overview of the application and the representations received.