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Gutted we are not now going to see Robbie Williams

(57 Posts)
Primrose53 Fri 25-Aug-23 17:32:53

As soon as tickets went on sale my friend and I bought tickets to see RW on Sat night at Sandringham.

A couple of weeks ago it was announced that you could not take folding chairs. I asked why not because you could at other concerts there and they said it was because other concerts are around 8,000 visitors but RW is 25,000!

I am pretty good healthwise but I doubt whether I could stand from about 3pm to 11.30 pm. All you are allowed is a picnic rug and then we both started worrying in case we can’t get up again! It’s sold out both Sat and Sun nights with waiting list of 7,000 so we got refunds on tickets. Gutted to be honest but have loads of recorded RW footage to watch.

Another friend is going to see The Who on Mon night and she said she will be so embarrassed because she has to get hauled up once she sits down.

The minds are willing but our vintage bodies are not. 😢

downtoearth Fri 25-Aug-23 17:44:09

Our local FB page has many offers of tickets that people,for the same reason,are selling.

Primrose53 Fri 25-Aug-23 18:01:17

downtoearth

Our local FB page has many offers of tickets that people,for the same reason,are selling.

Yes. There was a warning here last week of fake RW tickets being on FB so we got a refund instead of trying to sell ours. They cost Ā£182 for the pair of us so we didn’t want to be left with them if people thought they might be fake.

IClaudius Fri 25-Aug-23 18:17:09

That seems to be very unfair Primrose, I'm Stretham there are many people who would like to attend bit just couldn't physically stand for the duration of the concert. As for only being able to sit on picnic blankets, that would be rather uncomfortable if the ground is wet and muddy. It's a lot of money to spend 8 hours in discomfort.

merlotgran Fri 25-Aug-23 18:34:31

IClaudius

That seems to be very unfair Primrose, I'm Stretham there are many people who would like to attend bit just couldn't physically stand for the duration of the concert. As for only being able to sit on picnic blankets, that would be rather uncomfortable if the ground is wet and muddy. It's a lot of money to spend 8 hours in discomfort.

Surely picnic rugs when spread out take up more space than a folding chair? šŸ¤”

IClaudius Fri 25-Aug-23 18:41:37

I would have thought so too merlotgran. Anyone with a disability, even pregnancy or advancing years and not being as nimble as they once were would struggle to get to their feet after 8 hours on a damp blanket.

Callistemon21 Fri 25-Aug-23 18:41:59

There were outdoor concerts near here but I know I couldn't stand for that long so they're a thing of the past now.

Callistemon21 Fri 25-Aug-23 18:45:24

IClaudius

I would have thought so too merlotgran. Anyone with a disability, even pregnancy or advancing years and not being as nimble as they once were would struggle to get to their feet after 8 hours on a damp blanket.

I think less abled people can get places at the front with chairs. There are barriers in between to avoid a crush.

Not sure about anyone without a Blue badge.

PamelaJ1 Fri 25-Aug-23 18:51:57

We are going but not looking forward to it.
I have been to quite a few concerts in Norfolk. Blickling has always been lovely, very relaxed, could take picnics and some even turned up with tables and picnics. It was quite a surprise when I got the details ( after we booked)
The Sandringham one has warned that it will take 2hours to get in and to leave. Gates to the venue open at 2, Robbie is on at nine. We aim to get there at six. I don’t think that the majority of his fans will be youngsters. Those of a sophisticated disposition like a bit of comfort.
The organisers have got too greedy.

Primrose53 Fri 25-Aug-23 20:47:24

PamelaJ1

We are going but not looking forward to it.
I have been to quite a few concerts in Norfolk. Blickling has always been lovely, very relaxed, could take picnics and some even turned up with tables and picnics. It was quite a surprise when I got the details ( after we booked)
The Sandringham one has warned that it will take 2hours to get in and to leave. Gates to the venue open at 2, Robbie is on at nine. We aim to get there at six. I don’t think that the majority of his fans will be youngsters. Those of a sophisticated disposition like a bit of comfort.
The organisers have got too greedy.

PamelaJ1 hope you have a great time. I managed to get in contact with the man right at the top who manages all the Heritage Concerts as well as The Royal Variety Performance. He said there will be hay bales around the perimeter but what are the chances of getting one in a crowd of 25,000?

Tickets in the VIP area are an extra £150 for which you have comfy seats, separate toilets and drinks are brought to you but you still pay. £10 extra for car parking too.

At the Blickling concerts people used to carry wooden kitchen tables, candelabra, comfy chairs and hampers galore. Those days are long gone.

Please come back and tell me how it was.

Dinahmo Fri 25-Aug-23 21:51:40

When we lived in Suffolk we used to go each summer to a small series of concerts held in Fram Castle. We always took folding chairs and some people took tables. They were hugely enjoyable events.

The organisers of todays' events are probably a few decades younger than most of us and it never occurs to them that the middle aged or older want to go to such concerts. Surely a person sprawling on a blanket is going to take more floor area than someone sitting on a folding chair.

I'm old enough to have been to concerts in small (by today's standards) venues (big names) and so couldn't bear to have to stand for several hours.

Casdon Fri 25-Aug-23 22:39:11

I’ve got a sit mat, which I’m sure would be allowed, it’s a lot more comfortable than sitting straight onto the floor because of the backrest, and it folds up. I take it to the beach but it would be great for concerts too. Like this, but mine is blue, it came from Mountain Warehouse years ago.

Maggiemaybe Fri 25-Aug-23 23:52:42

When we went to a festival in Leeds we could take folding chairs, and quite a few of us older members of the audience flocked together with them in one area. A young woman came dancing over at one point, skidded to a halt and announced ā€œBloody hell, it’s like Homebase over here!ā€. Actually, with our woolly hats and the blankets over our knees it was kind of her not to say it was like an old folks’ home.

No chairs allowed when we went to see George Ezra recently, but there were at least some stone steps to sit on. Strictly speaking we weren’t allowed even to take cushions in but DH managed to sweet talk security into letting him in with his.

PamelaJ1 Sat 26-Aug-23 07:02:41

casdon looks good but I haven’t got one!
Primrose tell him ā€˜Thanks a bunch’ šŸ˜‚ a hay bale is a wonderful thing for feeding to animals but, as you said, we won’t get one anyway.
I don’t really have a problem with sitting on a blanket it’s more the lack of being able to picnic. I know there will be food outlets but it’s not quite the same. I’m feeding my gang before we go.
We are going tomorrow so will report back.

Primrose53 Sat 26-Aug-23 10:28:19

PamelaJ1

casdon looks good but I haven’t got one!
Primrose tell him ā€˜Thanks a bunch’ šŸ˜‚ a hay bale is a wonderful thing for feeding to animals but, as you said, we won’t get one anyway.
I don’t really have a problem with sitting on a blanket it’s more the lack of being able to picnic. I know there will be food outlets but it’s not quite the same. I’m feeding my gang before we go.
We are going tomorrow so will report back.

My daughter and boyfriend went to an outdoor concert last weekend and small portion of cheesy chips were £7 each.

If they don’t allow you to take food in, they can charge what they like!

henetha Sat 26-Aug-23 10:35:01

It's the idea of having to stand for ages that has stopped me going to any of these events now.
Such a shame, Primrose. I hope you have a lovely time in spite of this problem.

pascal30 Sat 26-Aug-23 10:38:56

could you take one of those nifty walking sticks that opens up to a stool? I've seen them advertised on Instagram..

Georgesgran Sat 26-Aug-23 10:49:53

When we saw Simply Red - an evening concert at Chester-le-Street Riverside, we took a folding chair for DH who was midway through yet another course of chemo. It was obvious he was unwell, but he’d wanted to make it a family event. Despite his appearance, we had to hide the chair in a hedge, as they wouldn’t allow it inside the ground. Poor DH said he couldn’t manage the walk home, so we left him sitting on his chair outside the ground and I rushed home for my car and went back to collect him. The ground was huge and there would’ve been enough room for everyone there to have used a chair!

Georgesgran Sat 26-Aug-23 10:51:50

pascal30. Yes, a shooting stick would’ve been an option (we had a couple) had we known the folding chair wouldn’t be allowed in.

Hermia46 Sat 26-Aug-23 15:30:33

Hmmm you may not regret missing RW. It has been sheeting it down with rain since 2.30 pm...I live just 2 miles from Sandringham.... umbrella anyone!

Callistemon21 Sat 26-Aug-23 15:32:17

Oh no!

No umbrellas allowed usually at these concerts, either.

NannyJan53 Sat 26-Aug-23 15:39:38

We go every year to the Glastonbury Extravaganza, which is usually first Saturday in August. This year it was Texas and Lightning Seeds.

Everyone brings camping chairs and it’s a fabulous evening. Though once the music starts most people are up and dancing!

Bellasnana Sat 26-Aug-23 15:50:25

He was here in Malta a few days ago playing to a sold out crowd of 20,000. I’m not a fan so didn’t go but apparently he put on a very good performance.

biglouis Sat 26-Aug-23 15:51:12

They are in breach of the Equality Act. You are not allowed to have a rule or regulation which makes it more difficult for a disabled person to comply. I would be posting something on farcebook and some of the other sites and asking them how they plan to make "reasonable adjustment".

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 26-Aug-23 16:22:55

There is an area where seats are provided and where you can use your own chair, with loos nearby, but you have to pay extra for that.