Restoration plans to repair Hove Park have been officially approved after the debut “Live at Hove Park” concert series left the grounds in what Councillor David McGregor described as “totally unacceptable.”
The approval, granted on 11 September 2026, follows a meeting between council contractors and the event organisers, JOY. Concerts. The repair work aims to address deep ruts and significant turf damage caused by heavy machinery and vehicle movements during the “de-rig” phase of the event.
The concert series, which took place on Saturday 5 September and Sunday 6 September, featured headliners including the Levellers and Passenger. While the performances drew crowds from across Sussex, the subsequent cleanup operation was hampered by heavy rainfall, leading to the churned-up state of the park’s grassy areas.
Councillor David McGregor, who inspected the site, described the condition of the park as “totally unacceptable.” The damage is particularly concentrated on a large grassy section that is frequently used for children’s after-school and weekend football matches.
Under the terms of the site hire agreement, JOY. Concerts is responsible for all reinstatement costs. To ensure the work is completed to the required standard and as quickly as possible, Brighton & Hove City Council will commission the repairs directly and bill the organisers for the full amount.
According to Brighton and Hove News, the damage was primarily caused by the movement of heavy staging and equipment trailers over waterlogged ground.
The council has not yet confirmed a specific timeline for when the affected areas will be fully reopened for community sports, though the approval of the restoration plan is intended to expedite the process. The financial mechanism of billing the organisers directly is designed to prevent any delays in starting the work.
