BST Hyde Park Reviews 212

The main stage was awful. We couldn't see a thing, couldn't even see the screens. Huge 'stand/tower' at the left of the stage completely blocked the view from there, so everyone gathered at the same place.
Travelled from abroad specifically to see blackpink perform and all I could manage was to hear them.
No one searching small bags, only big ones, that weren't even supposed to be allowed, according to the festivals rules. Didn't feel safe.
Very disappointed.

Fortunately the acts were fabulous. Take That didn’t disappoint in any way. However, difficult to know where to start with the organisation, or lack of it, at Hyde Park. We had paid extra for priority entry an hour earlier than GA. However, when we got there at about 1.30pm we couldn’t see the end of the queue. When we asked the staff member at the entry point if the people at the back of the priority entry queue would get in before 2.00pm, he said he didn’t think so and assured us we could go in at the 2.00pm GA entry gate. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case and staff at the GA gate told us to go back to the priority entry queue! I get that numbers at the respective gates have to be managed but it was clear they had oversold priority admission and there was no advantage whatsoever in paying the extra unless you started queuing at about 12.30 which we weren’t able to do. Long and frustrating story short, we were eventually allowed in the GA gate at 2.00pm, along with other people who had decided the priority queue was no priority at all! Hassle before we even got it. I won’t bother to comment on the loo queues, blocked access pathways etc etc. it’s all been said!

The Take That BST 2023 was an accident waiting to happen and was based, in my opinion on profit, and managing with reduced staffing levels rather than people’s safety and well-being.

I’ve been to many many events at Hyde Park over the years and this was scary and chaotic. No stewards around and no site management or guidance. We asked 10 different people where first aid was and none of them knew. We sought out a site manager and raised our concerns and her response was, my job is to look after the H&S of our clients (although I can’t be 100% sure she said clients but you get my drift) but there was no action to support this, just well trodden words.

It took me 25 minutes to push my way to the toilets before the main event as there was no clear pathways to follow and there wasn’t 1 steward available to help to direct and help. We were told when we arrived that we couldn’t take back supports on site due the health and safety risks, but the lack of site management was a much bigger danger. The walk ways weren’t kept clear, as was always the case previously, the ground was totally littered with strewn cans, rubbish and bottles, where as in the past there was litter collection and bins, with the resulting effect of when you were trying to get out, the trip factor was a reality and danger to all.

I have spoken to friends who went to see Pink last week and they reported the same. In speaking to the head of accessibility on site when I eventually found someone to talk to, I was told they knew about all of these problems, and with the demographics of the audiences it wasn’t a surprise I was complaining, as many had before this BST season and he was expecting a further flood of complaints especially as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel were playing.

But it continues. We’re supposed to be seeing Billy Joel on Friday, but with the site issues and the fact you are not allowed to take even back supports in, let alone chairs, as they are all deemed a health and risk, which is ridiculous and I would challenge also discriminatory as there aren’t any reasonable adjustments being made. Again this was confirmed by the accessibility team.

So in short, I appreciate the music line up is great, but the site event management, health and safety along with customer care is a real concern, and I would genuinely think twice before going if there are any mobility or health issues, as you won’t get any help or support as I found to my cost.

Having been to six previous BST Hyde Park events - yesterday at Take That was the first time I’ve had issues. The toilet queues were massive - no stewards helping funnel people and every time I went half of the toilets were shut for cleaning, which was causing the queues. I tried 3 different toilets. Terrible compared to previous experiences

Great experience/staging/ logistics/
The whole thing
Brilliant!!

Absolutely worst experience. Venue was too overcrowded. People kept picnic blankets hogging loads of space up until Take That came on stage. You couldn’t move for people. Walkways were overcrowded, with people even sitting there earlier on. I feel for anyone who had a disability. Loo queues were crazy. Needed at least double the amount to even begin to cope with numbers. Queues for food and drink just crazy. Had I had a good view of stage that might have been ok but could not see a thing. The Gold area took the front of the stage and those paying standard couldn’t even see people on stage as it was so low down. I didn’t expect close up views but I expected to at least see they were on stage. If I was lucky I could see the top of their head. If they went on the walkway I could forget seeing anything. I couldn’t even see them properly on the screens as they were weirdly placed on the low down stage with the tree blocking some of the view. Beautiful stage design but total lack of visibility, overcrowded and overpriced venue made it a rubbish experience.

Never experienced such a bad festival layout.. when I went to BST in 2019, it was brilliant - there was lots of room to stand, and plenty of space to relax before the performers took to stage.
This time, those buying a ‘standard ticket’ - which by the way, cost us £90 each - were given the most pathetic view. It was so cramped and busy - the layout of the event was awful. No one with a standard ticket could get further than the camera podiums (which also took up the main view of stage), it’s sad the event is now like this - only people that want to spend £200+ for a ticket upgrade will get a better experience (and even then the view is limited). Just another scheme to get more money from the public.. what happened to one type of ticket, first come then first nearest the stage?! Keep it simple!
The performers were fantastic, but I’m sad to say I won’t be coming again because of the event structure itself (and I heard others saying this too). Far too busy and crowded - making it quite a stressful experience!
Also.. it was so busy that we decided to stock up and purchase more than one drink (x7 in total), to avoid traipsing back through the crowd and losing eachother let alone our underwhelming viewing spot. It wasn’t until after paying however, that the girl serving us said they had to opened due to H&S… seriously ?! I’m seeing Take That.. a 90s boyband.. do I look like the sort of person that’s going to use a full can of drink as a weapon?!? So silly! I then spilt most of my drinks on the way back through the crowd.. a waste of £55.

Although the acts for amazing and the atmosphere great this event did lack on organisation! There was not not enough signage which caused extensive confusion and elongated walks to entrance and exits.
Adding to this the stewards were unable to help with any general knowledge of the surrounding area and directions. If it wasn't for a passing Red Cross first aider who helped us with directions we would still be walking around Hyde Park now!!!

Attended the Take That event on the 1st July 2023 - arrived in good time and made our claim to a spot of grass off to the side of the stage - Will Young and Sugerbabes sound was perfect - but when The Script came on the sound became worse to the point that you could not hear when Danny was speaking to the crowd and what he was saying and his voice was drowned out by the base of the speakers when he was singing - and when Take That the main event and the reason I purchased tickets came on the stage the sound quality was much worse - you could not hear that band members talking to the crowd and when they were singing the sound quality was very poor - this event I felt was not immersive unless you were in the golden circle or VIP sections - which not all of us can stretch too in cost - this will be my first and last visit to a BST event as the sound quality ruined it for me - I go to a concert to hear the bands sing and play not the audience around me !! BST make sure those of us on the sides have the same quality of sound as those in the middle and in the VIP sections !

Was got tickets for Christmas, it was a long wait till June but more than worth it , was seated close enough to the stage , the head line act was guns and roses the support acts were as good ,staff were great we were near the vip bit and they need more money 💰 what ever they were on ,they dealt with one and all respectful, even the check in staff were wonderful and nothing seamed to much trouble, last I was greatly shocked at the high standards even in the loos, I've already started to drops for up comming gigs

All the acts were great - Take That and the Script. However, despite paying extra for VIP the queues for the ladies toilets were ridiculous! There seemed to be too many people in that area and no clear walkways as over crowded. Greedy organisers !

Lack of stewards at the event, no clear pathways to access toilets or facilities. Previously stewards have kept pathways clear which is safer for everyone. Doesn't bear thinking about if they'd been an incident, so hemmed in and unable to move.

The performers were brilliant. We have been 3 times over the years and previous experiences have been very good. I don’t know what’s happened this year. It was very overcrowded. So much so it ruined the experience. We were ion top of each other. You couldn’t get to a toilet the queues were ridiculous people were panicking and getting angry and women using the gents trough it got so bad. To get food you were gone fir so long in the queue. We spent more time queuing for loos and food than enjoying the performers. Everything was over priced. We left early and went for dinner in iVictoria. The venue needs to think about numbers as by ramming people in you ruin the experience. That’s the last time for us. Such a shame.

Agree with comments below re bags- so many with large bags being let in. Toilets terrible with horrendous queues for the ladies. Herded like cattle in there. No queues for the men’s as per usual. People searching bags have no manners and just rude. Couldn’t see a thing and sound was terrible where we were. Couldn’t hear anything Take That were saying. Expensive tickets for a bad experience. Over priced food too.

Went to see Take That at BST last night. They were amazing, as usual, as were The Script so no complaints there.

However, I have to say this is the first BST concert that I have felt unsafe at. Massively overcrowded and poor venue design meant there were crush points near the toilets/bars. We only saw two stewards all night who were too busy chatting to care about the crush behind them. Nobody to manage the disabled access paths or main paths so people had set up their blankets on them making it impossible to move around the site, and getting back to your spot was a nightmare.

Don’t even get me started on the beautiful but badly situated fake tree on stage…..erm, looked lovely but why put it in front of one of the two screens the audience relied on to actually see what was happening on stage?????

Having experienced several events organised and sponsored by AMEX, it was so disappointing and frustrating that BST Hyde Park was such a terrible disappointment. We had the VIP Hydeaway tickets. The event was overcrowded, the area with all the facilities was so far away from the main stage you couldn’t even hear the acts and there was little or no organisation of the crowds to create any walkway to even get in and out. Would not recommend.

American express' yearly cash-in.
That's what it should be called.
Easy smooth entry, although we had no bags and went to gate A as per noted on ticket to be sent to a different gate even though there were zero queues.
Once we got in there was plenty of proper toilets to our right hand side which set our expectations high.
However 10 steps in and they were soon crushed and the whole experience became really underwhelming.
The "VIP" experience was very much VIPoo.
Over croweded, felt like pigs in pens, if you were in the first 50 people you were not getting a seat or lounger or even a beanbag. Oversold or too many different sections in the same VIP area.
We had " THE ALL VIP TERRACE – ACCOR LIVE LIMITLESS" but again the area seemed crowded and very limited. Disappointing as wed been sold this idea of exclusivity and an experience. The experience was i did 30k steps looking for a seat i never found and had to eat my pizza folded with one hand like some sort of balancing act after paying in excess of £250 a ticket. Utter shambles let down and definaltey just a cashing in experience for american express.

For anyone wondering about prices once your inside;
£11 for a spirit and mixer, £7 a pint and £115 for a bottle of moet.
£15 for any sort of meal £5 for any sort of side and £2.50 for a soft drink.

Food was awful and over priced. I got chicken wrap and there was hardly no chicken at all. £12 . Huge queues for the bars. I gave up. Venue needs a bigger stage. You can even see the artists playing. Had to look at screen. The amount of rubbish . I can’t believe your told online not to bring blanket or umbrellas but everyone around had them.
I have a very bad back so I need to sit once awhile. Nearing the end of show I was i was in pain and sat on the Vodafone charging area. This young guy who works there told me to get off the seating area. Was rude and telling me to get off the seat. I told him I needed to sit for a few mins as my back was in pain. He was really horrible to me. He did point out an area that had chairs at the exit. Just the way he was speaking to me as he was all powerful and could speak to me that way.
It doesn’t hurt to be polite and kind.
Anyways my experience was not great. Never go there again. Over rated and over price for food and drink. Very greedy companies.
Could have watched it on TV if it was shown.
Artists were fantastic.

I don't use apps and was annoyed to find the only way to access my tickets was with a phone app. No way to download and print. It's a cashless site, and I prefer cash, so I was also annoyed to discover that I had no option - at an event lasting over eight hours - but to buy food and drink there and pay by card. No food or drinks could be brought in except a small unopened bottle of water making it an expensive day. Finally the queues for the ladies toilets were totally unacceptable. The toilets were clean and well maintained with good handwashing facilities, fair enough, but I'm old and I don't expect to have to join a queue which I estimate was over 100m long at some points, to use a toilet. BST will do without my ticket money at future events.

I arrived at 1500 and was in the Diamond View/Summer Garden for 3 hours. Various seating was available with small queues at the bars, food outlets and toilets - so a very good experience for me. I ended up casually walking to 6 rows from the front of stage 1hour before the concert started so I got an unexpected great view of the concert. I read all of the Pink reviews so I was prepared for the worst..but I personally had a great time and for me it was worth the VIP tickets for Guns n Roses.