Stonehenge Campsite, located in Berwick St James near Stonehenge, has applied to Wiltshire Council for permission to expand activities associated with its annual summer solstice celebrations and to introduce additional year-round services at the site.
The family-run campsite offers a range of accommodation options, including yurts, shepherd’s huts, glamping pods, caravan and motorhome pitches, and tent camping.
According to the application, the business is seeking authorization to continue hosting its annual Solsticefest event, permit occasional live music performances, and sell alcoholic beverages from its camp shop throughout the year.
For the past 18 years, the campsite has hosted Solsticefest, a four-day event that coincides with the summer solstice and attracts visitors who gather to view the sunrise at Stonehenge on June 21. The event has a capacity of approximately 500 attendees and includes shuttle transportation to the prehistoric monument. Promotional materials describe the gathering as “a unique micro spiritual well-being festival.”
As part of its licensing application, the campsite is requesting approval for live and recorded music between noon and 10 p.m. each day from June 18 through June 22. Organizers have indicated that performances would feature 12 bands over the course of the event.
While music performances are expected to take place inside the site’s barn, the applicant has requested an outdoor performance license because the structure is not soundproofed. In addition to the annual solstice event, the campsite is seeking flexibility to host occasional live music activities in the future.
According to HelloRayo, the application also includes a request to sell alcohol from the camp shop on a year-round basis, a move that could expand on-site amenities available to guests staying at the property.
Wiltshire Council is currently reviewing the application through its licensing process. A public consultation period has been opened, allowing residents and other interested parties to submit comments and feedback. The consultation is scheduled to remain open until July 6, after which council officers will consider responses before making a determination.
The proposal highlights a broader trend within the outdoor hospitality sector, where campgrounds, glamping destinations, and caravan parks are increasingly exploring events, entertainment programming, and enhanced food-and-beverage offerings as ways to diversify revenue streams and extend guest engagement.
For operators, licensing considerations related to live entertainment, alcohol sales, noise management, and community relations remain important factors when evaluating similar business expansions.
As experiential travel continues to influence visitor expectations, many outdoor accommodation providers are assessing how event-based offerings can complement traditional camping and lodging services while balancing regulatory requirements and local stakeholder concerns.