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Plans to increase capacity of Smoked and Uncut music festival in Bridge near Canterbury, where Razorlight will headline

A bid has been launched to boost the capacity of a food and music festival in the grounds of a luxury hotel by 1,000 people - as organisers reveal the popular event's headline act.

Bosses from The Pig at Bridge Place, near Canterbury, expect to sell a bumper number of tickets for this summer’s Smoked and Uncut on Saturday, August 12.

Supergrass headlined last year's Smoked and Uncut festival at Bridge
Supergrass headlined last year's Smoked and Uncut festival at Bridge

The venue welcomed 3,000 festival-goers in August to see rock band Supergrass, which had been secured as its main act.

Now, organisers have lodged plans with the city council to increase the number of guests by a third as they anticipate a surge in demand from the fans of this year's headliner, Razorlight.

Publicist Emma Cripwell told KentOnline: “We have the capacity for more people, and we want to be able to welcome as many Kent locals as possible.

“With Razorlight headlining, we think it will be a great lure, so we suspect we will need all of those extra tickets.

Razorlight's Johnny Borrell. Picture: Gerred Gilronan
Razorlight's Johnny Borrell. Picture: Gerred Gilronan

“We wouldn’t even think of increasing the capacity if we thought it would upset the villagers.

“There aren’t that many music festivals that happen in Kent, and so all the lovely locals seem to really love it.”

Smoked and Uncut began in 2013 as a small guitar sing-along in the gardens of one of the hotel chain's other venues.

It drew 2,000 people to the Bridge venue in 2021, with Jools Holland named as that year’s main star.

If the local authority gives the proposals the green light, the festival will have 14 food stalls, a pop-up restaurant, 13 bars and 17 other vendors serving non-alcoholic drinks.

The Smoked and Uncut music festival at The Pig in Bridge near Canterbury
The Smoked and Uncut music festival at The Pig in Bridge near Canterbury

Papers show organisers intend on doubling the number of two-person glamping tents it will erect from 40 to 80.

A weekend’s stay in the accommodation will set festival-goers back £1,250.

“The event won’t be much different to last year except that, if the council approves our request to increase the capacity of the event, we will be able to have more tents,” Ms Cripwell added.

“We’re hoping for good weather and for our teams to be able to showcase the best of food and drink in Kent.”

Emma Cripwell says extra capacity is needed to cope with the expected high demand
Emma Cripwell says extra capacity is needed to cope with the expected high demand

To mark the event’s 10-year anniversary, Razorlight, best known for UK number-one single America, will entertain the biggest crowd Smoked and Uncut has ever hosted in Bridge.

The stalls will supply burgers, veggie and vegan hot bites and stone-baked pizzas, while Shepherd Neame’s Beer Bar and a double-decker Hambledon Vineyard bus will supply brews and wines.

Attendees will also be able to eat from a four-course feasting menu with Michelin-star chef Angela Hartnett for £60 per person.

Tickets for the event can be purchased from the Smoked and Uncut website.

They start from £67.50.

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