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New 'quiet stage' set to revive Kenwood concerts
By Valentine Low, Evening Standard 06.08.07
Residents complained about noise from the previous Kenwood stage
An artist's impression of the new design
Look here too
Open-air concerts at Kenwood House, cancelled this year after complaints over noise, could return.
English Heritage, which runs the venue, has drafted plans for a new arena and camouflaged stage in a bid to win over disgruntled locals.
The green-roofed structure in the Pasture Ground would replace last year's floating stage on the pond. The new stage is about 50 yards to the west of the old one.
Paul Griffiths, English Heritage's head of visitor operations for Kenwood, said the plan was to run eight concerts over seven consecutive weekends, for up to 10,000 people at a time.
"The modelling our sound experts have done suggests we would keep within our sound limits," he said. "The advantage of the Pasture Ground is that it is a far bigger viewing area."
Concerts at Kenwood, on the edge of Hampstead Heath, date back 55 years. Once confined to the classics, in recent years Ronan Keating, Katie Melua and Art Garfunkel have performed.
Residents who complained about noise included actor Warren Mitchell. He said last year: "It's awful. As well as the concerts, there's some terrible MC making inane comments. You can't sit in the garden. Our little dog has to hide under the bed."
After the complaints Camden council cut the number of concerts and maximum capacity and stipulated two "respite weekends", at which point English Heritage cancelled this year's season.
As part of the consultation for the new proposals, residents are being given tours of the venue. Rebecca Milton of English Heritage said: "Generally people were quite positive and receptive.
"The feeling was we had taken on board people's concerns about noise and the visual intrusion of the floating stage."
English Heritage is also talking to Transport for London and bus companies to try to improve public transport to the venue and reduce parking problems.
It will hold a public meeting next month to discuss the plans before submitting them to Camden for approval in the autumn.
Welcoming the possible compromise, broadcaster Joan Bakewell said the concerts may have become too big: "Not only do they want to have more of them, but they want more people and pop concerts, so the noise is louder. But the concerts are a wonderful feature of summer. They make a lot of people happy."
Reader views (4)
I have been going to Kenwood for a number of years until it was stopped because of residents complaints. I went this year (2009) to view the new site before I booked tickets. I was amazed at the site as it seems not as relaxed a venue as the old site. Yes, there is not a lake in between but the deckchairs are too near each other to have a nice picnic. I used to go for a relaxed evening and listen to the classical music, now it is heading to pop concerts. I see it as squeezed in a deckchair with not much room, or sit on the grass and everybody walking to toilet blocks etc. In my opinion, the fun has gone. If I wanted to sit on a seat I would go to the theatre and pay the same money and no threat of rain. Who wants tops names which make the concerts more expensive. You just want a relaxed atmosphere where you have room to move and have a nice picnic with nice relaxing music. That is my opinion anyway. I enjoyed the concerts more when it was where it was and things were simpler regarding the music and the cost.
- Jc, Bucks visitor
Why on earth is Camden Council (Labour) pandering to the small handful of residents who live within earshot of Kenwood, at the expense of thousands of ordinary people (other Camden residents included) who enjoy the concerts over a 6 - 8 week period in the summer. The residents presumably knew about the concerts when they bought their properties. I live near a church and a mosque which affects my parking and noise, but I deal with it, I don't ask the council to close them down. Sorry Warren, Joan, you are miserable NIMBYs.
- Ck1, North London
Yes I appreciated the new larger viewing area at the Van Morrison concert on 16th August 2008. But what was the point when you couldn't hear properly! - the sound being only projected in one direction!
Organisers have appeased local residents at the expense of the paying public. Take my advice, avoid concerts at Kenwood.
- Carmel Sweeney, London
Miserable people! Spoiling everyone's fun, the concerts were well run no trouble at all the music wasn't fringe or heavy rock and have been going for years. They didn't go through the night and were not too noisy. As for a dog hiding under the table, there were plenty of dogs running round enjoying themselves. Just a case of not in my neighbourhood I think.
- H, London
