Ludlow Castle: Bid to double number of days of live music at the site

Rag'n'Bone Man was one of the artists to perform at Ludlow Castle this year

Up to eight days of live music could be held at Ludlow Castle in the future.

Futuresound Events applied for licensing permission to double the number after four days of music at the Shropshire venue in 2023.

The events would take place between May and September with about 7,000 people attending each day but there would be limits on noise, the length of the shows and end times.

Futuresound also said the number of days would remain at four in 2024.

Rag'n'Bone Man, Kaiser Chiefs, Nile Rogers, Chic and Bastille all performed at the castle in July.

Andy Smith, director of Futuresound, said the feedback this year had been "overwhelming" and added: "It's clear there is an appetite regionally for the live events taking place at the castle.

He claimed the shows had given "a real boost to the local economy" but said the application was to give the events "room to grow".

Mr Smith added: "We will only increase the number of shows based upon demand, impact upon the town and with the permission and support of the castle."

There are four days of music planned over one weekend next summer with Anne-Marie and Madness already announced as performers.

The acts for the other days would be announced in January, Mr Smith said.

Ludlow Castle staged four days of live music over consecutive days in the summer

Ludlow councillor Andy Boddington said the events this year brought a "buzz" to the town but raised concerns about the impact on tourism to the area.

On his website, he said the live music days would be in addition to six days of events for the Ludlow Food Festival and the Ludlow Spring Festival.

He said they would mean the closure of the castle and the surrounding square to visitors who did not wish to attend them.

Mr Boddington admitted the music events "will bring trade and entertainment to the town" and their success this year outweighed any disturbance and inconvenience.

Ludlow has become famous for its food festivals which began in 1995

Futuresound originally applied for 15 days of events but later reduced the number to eight after discussions with Shropshire Council.

John Diamond, who lived near the castle said: "For the town, 15 is too much in such a confined space of time."

He said a lot of people chose to live in Ludlow for the tranquillity and a maximum of six was more reasonable."

But he conceded "we have to think about the young people of Ludlow" and the events this year were "very good".

Comments can be made on the application until 21 December.