Smoke in the park
Monday, June 21, 2010 
I spent Saturday afternoon in East London. Specifically, I was there to explore Victoria Park, one of London's oldest municipal parks, to see whether it might be suitable for a big open air event I want to organise.
It has to be a smoker-friendly occasion and that might put us at loggerheads with the local council who run the park, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We have a long list of alternative venues to look at first.
Anyway, what I saw on Saturday was the first of a two-day event called Paradise Gardens Festival. And the point of my being there was this: if we can organise a Smoke on the Water party for 200 people, or a Politics and Prohibition event for 400, why not a Smoke in the Park festival for 20,000?
In a perfect world such an event would feature a host of attractions including a concert featuring the likes of Paul Weller, Lilly Allen and Joe Jackson to name a few. Actually, it's not as outlandish or as impossible as it sounds. Watch this space.
Update: the council, I now read, wants to develop Victoria Park so that it includes "adult play facilities to promote healthy living". Can't wait to present my pitch for an annual smoker-friendly festival!!
Reader Comments (4)
Wow, how exciting! You can count me in ...
I could bring my banjo if it helps.
Would sound great count me in too!!
Sign me up, I will be there like a shot