Organisers of World Yoga Festival bid for premises licence at Culden Faw Estate

ORGANISERS of the World Yoga Festival have applied for a premises licence for their four-day, alcohol-free event on the Culden Faw Estate, near Henley.

The application, submitted to Buckinghamshire Council, covers the festival’s main “Space Tent”, which is expected to hold between 1,000 and 1,500 people and would host yoga classes by day and amplified live music in the evenings.

According to the documents, Arsha Kula Foundation is seeking permission for live music, recorded music and dance performances from Thursday through to Sunday over the event weekend.

Live music is proposed from 6.30pm to 10pm on Thursday, with a mix of afternoon and evening sets on Friday and Saturday, and performances running as late as 11pm on Sunday.

The licence sets out a detailed programme of music and performances in the Space Tent across the four days.

On Thursday, July 30 there would be an amplified live band from 6.30pm to 10pm.

On Friday, July 31, organisers are proposing kirtan chanting late morning, a “sound journey” session in the afternoon, and an amplified band from 8pm to 10pm.

Saturday, August 1 would feature further low-level amplified or acoustic kirtan, another sound journey and an evening amplified band set running until 10pm, while the final day, Sunday, August 2, includes kirtan in the early afternoon, an amplified band from 5.30pm to 8.30pm and an unamplified drumming circle from 10pm to 11pm.

The organisers stress that World Yoga Festival is alcohol-free, with security contracted to eject anyone found with alcohol or drugs on site.

They say this, alongside a child welfare policy and wider event management plan, is designed to support public safety, prevent crime and disorder, and protect children from harm.

To address concerns about noise, the festival team has produced a noise management plan and says it is offering neighbours chances to meet them or join an online call to discuss any worries. An event management plan, including risk assessments, fire safety measures and details of flow rates in and around the Space Tent, is also in place, while a separate noise management plan addresses public nuisance concerns.

Residents can comment on the application as part of the public consultation, which closes on April 8.

Founded in 2016, World Yoga Festival is hosted by The Arsha Kula Foundation, a UK-registered charity, and brings together leading yoga and meditation teachers each year.

Held within the grounds of Henley Showground in Marlow Road, this year’s event is due to run from July 30 to August 2 and is described as “somewhere between retreat and festival”.