Scots music festival among most expensive in UK amid concerns over 'value for money'
Festival season is nearly upon us and many Scots are gearing up for the music event of their choice. From Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to Glasgow and Edinburgh Summer Sessions, we are totally spoiled for choice this summer.
However, there is no escaping the fact that arts events are costly. Between food, drink, transport, and festival tickets themselves, music lovers can find themselves hundreds of pounds out of pocket before even seeing an act.
In fact, a new study has revealed that a hugely popular music festival in Scotland is the ninth-most expensive music event in the UK. TRNSMT, which takes place over three days in Glasgow Green every July, is the pricey festival in question.
TRNSMT charges £89.50 per day, according to research by online casino guide CritiqueJeu, which examined ticket prices for over 300 UK festivals scheduled in 2025, calculating the cost per day based on the minimum ticket price.
The music extravaganza, organised by DF Concerts, boasts 50 Cent, The Script, Snow Patrol, and Biffy Clyro among its line-up this year. It has become the country's biggest festival since T in the Park wrapped up in 2016.
"Seeing the variation in cost for these festivals can lead to a 'something for everyone' ideal," Paul LENGLET, co-founder and editor of CritiqueJeu, said on the findings.
"However, with the cost of living still high and the UK public suffering from hits to their wallets, it's time to question whether the festivals are giving value for money."
A general admission day ticket currently costs £89.50 from the TRNSMT website, while a full weekend job costs £249.50. There are also options to snap up two day tickets at varying prices.
Elsewhere, Leeds Festival and Reading Festival, both happening in August, share first place as the UK's most expensive festivals based on the minimum day ticket price.
These events, which typically feature similar line-ups across their separate locations, require £125 for a single day's attendance.
BST Hyde Park ranked second most expensive at £101.95 per day. However, it comes with the advantage of a central London location and typically A-list headliners. The event runs from June 27 to July 13, 2025.
If you're looking for a festival with multi-day camping and a diverse lineup, Homestead Festival, which was ranked third among all events at £100 per day, is a popular option.
The festival takes place from July 18-20, 2025 at Fernhill Farm in Somerset.
Parklife Weekender is fourth at £97.70 per day, scheduled for June 8 and 9, 2025 in Manchester. Meanwhile, Bloodstock, known for its heavy metal focus and devoted fan base, ranked fifth on the price index at £96 per day.
In general, the study found a huge price gap between the most expensive and most affordable options.
While Leeds and Reading charge £125 per day, Swanage Blues festival costs just £3.75 daily, Live on the Wye £3.50, and Chester Folk Festival £3.25. These budget-friendly options cost over 97 per cent less than the premium events.
"Festival-goers should consider what they value most in their experience," Paul added.
"The headline acts and production values at Leeds and Reading justify their premium pricing for many attendees.
"But the amenities on offer are often basic portable toilets and junk food stands. Whereas, smaller events often offer more distinctive atmospheres and community connections that appeal to different audiences.'
Top 10 most expensive UK festivals in 2025 (cost per day)
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
4 hours ago
- Scotsman
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival: My first visit to the Highlands camping music festival
It was my first time at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival - and here's what I thought. Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Three days of camping at a festival while having the chance to listen to my favourite artists only about an hour from my home all wasn't in my plans, but I'd say that I have no regrets. Having the chance to report on the three-day long Belladrum Tartan Festival right in the middle of the celebrations on Friday sounded like a dream come true after hearing so many great things about the festival from friends and fellow reporters. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad And then, when a few friends told me they were camping for the duration of the festival, I thought it was the perfect chance to join. So, in a spontaneous decision, I decided to swap out the far more comfortable bed waiting for me on Friday morning ahead of a long day of work for a thin sleeping bag in the middle of a cold campsite with hundreds of Belladrum fanatics. With my only other festival experience being MacMoray - a two-day event where 10,000 people pack out a field in Elgin - I didn't have many other experiences to compare it to. But on Thursday with my backpack half the size of me filled to the brim with clothes, video equipment, my tent and sleeping bag, I made my way to Belladrum along with around 20,000 others. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Belladrum is a three-day festival from Thursday to Saturday. | Ena Saracevic As soon as I departed on my train from Elgin to Inverness, it was clear that I wasn't the only one making the trip to the festival. 'You're all heading to Belladrum, aren't you?' the conductor asked a group of women, all kitted out in bright colours and bucket hats. And this only continued when I boarded the dedicated D&E coach transporting festival goers to and from 'Bella', which took me on the last leg to the festival in Kiltarlity. As the bus travelled around bendy Highland roads on the A862, there were laughs and chatter as groups of friends and families prepared to kick off their weekend at Belladrum. It was probably one of the only socially acceptable times for others to down cider and cocktail cans in a bus full of other passengers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Make sure you keep up to date with Arts and Culture news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here. I arrived in the evening and made the most out of my time by watching performances from The Pigeon Detectives, Torridon, and Dougie Burns and the Cadillacs. Natasha Bedingfield was also a highlight, with the singer shimmering under the spotlight in her Stevie Nicks-esque dress singing classic tunes like Unwritten and Pocketful of Sunshine. The crowd enjoyed every act too, swaying along to the beat as their favourite acts took to the stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The iconic John Lennon nose at Belladrum. | Ena Saracevic Deciding to head off for a walk on my own, I came across 'the Ice Stage', which soon became my favourite place at the festival. A cheery performance from the group Dougie Burns and the Cadillacs had everyone there dancing to their bluesy rock 'n' roll tunes. With 12 stages at Belladrum, it made me even more excited to explore and experience genres of music I hadn't really been exposed to before. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Putting up my tent in the dark around midnight while being overwhelmingly tired from my evening, I quickly became thankful that my friend with me knew how to do it and could help out. Afterall, it was my first time camping. This also came after navigating through the hundreds of tents all lined throughout the field we were on. It quickly became clear to me why I'd previously heard Belladrum to be 'the best' camping festival in Scotland. There were fields to suit many different people, including a general area, a family space and a field for campers who prefer the quiet rather than the hustle and bustle. When I woke up ready for a full day of reporting on Friday, it was also a chance to try out one of the many food stalls around the festival grounds. During the day itself, I witnessed flash mobs, an array of fancy dress costumes, impromptu bagpipe performances and a lot of new artists that I'm now a fan of. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad C-MAT's performance had thousands of festival goers captivated. I also managed to catch a brilliant performance from local glam rock band Bad Actress. I spoke to attendees About what makes Belladrum so special. One person told me: 'It's so chilled. It's a total family affair, it's great, everyone's relaxed and there's no trouble or hassle.' And I agree with every word. A flash mob that happened at Belladrum on Friday. | Ena Saracevic Despite it being a family festival, I'd say anyone could find something they enjoy there. Not only was Belladrum itself varied, but so were the attendees. Young and old, rock lovers and pop fanatics, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad So, when the iconic grand firework display ends Belladrum 2025 on Saturday night, I know the first-timers will be rushing to come back to the Highland festival next year.
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
The Thursday Murder Club film update as Richard Osman announces exciting news
The on-screen adaptation of Richard Osman's best selling The Thursday Murder Club is set to be released later this month. Richard Osman has provided fans with an exciting update on the on-screen adaptation of his best selling novel, The Thursday Murder Club as he announced it is now coming to UK cinemas as well as Netflix. Osman's first book, The Thursday Murder Club, is now being turned into a film which is set to be released this summer. The story follows a group of elderly amateur sleuths living in a retirement home, played by Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie, who accidentally uncover a murder case and are willing to risk their lives to solve it. Filming for the first book in the murder mystery series began in 2024 with Chris Columbus as the director. As the release date for the highly anticipated film looms, Osman has been keeping fans up to date with the latest developments. Taking to Instagram, he announced that fans will be able to see the film in cinemas for a limited time only before it lands on Netflix just days later. He said: "Some very good news for everyone who wanted to see #TheThursdayMurderClub in UK cinemas. Netflix have listened to the clamour, and the film will now have a run in UK cinemas." Here is everything you need to know about the release date, cast and more. When is The Thursday Murder Club out? For those who are keen to see the film on the big screens, The Thursday Murder Club is set to be released in cinemas on August 22, a week before its Netflix release The film will then be available to stream on Netflix from August 28. It has a run time of almost two hours. Who is in the cast of the Thursday Murder Club? The four main characters in the film are the four elderly sleuths, Elizabeth Best, Joyce Meadowcroft, Ron Ritchie and Ibrahim Arif. Ex-spy Elizabeth is played by Dame Helen Mirren while Bridget Jones star Celia Imrie takes on ex-nurse Joyce's role. Former 007 agent Pierce Brosnan stars as ex-union activist Ron while Sir Ben Kingsley will portray ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif. Osman recently defended the controversial casting of Ron, telling Empire: "You have to do something unusual and different and interesting. "Here's the key thing about Pierce Brosnan playing Ron: Pierce Brosnan is who Ron would choose to play Ron." Other famous faces in the film include David Tennant with the Scots actor set to play Ian Ventham, who is the owner of the luxury retirement village Coopers Chase which is set in the English countryside. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Is there a trailer for The Thursday Murder Club? The official The Thursday Murder Club trailer was released by Netflix in May. The short clip shows Elizabeth digging up a cold case from 1973 and fans are teased with a glimpse of Cooper's Chase. When a murder takes place close by, Joyce is keen for the team to step up and solve a new mystery. Fans took to the comments to express their excitement, with one sharing: "The perfect cast, I am sooooo looking forward to seeing this film, love all the books, get ready to snuggle in and be totally enthralled." Another wrote: "Totally didn't expect this book series to be adapted by Netflix really looking forward to this. I hope it's good. And man this cast is stacked!" The Thursday Murder Club will be released in cinemas across the UK on August 22. It will then be available to watch on Netflix from August 28.
Scottish Sun
18 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Carer slept in his motor to make it as a wrestler and ended up Netflix poster boy
' I took to it like a duck to water. Wrestling comes naturally to Scots – we're battle-ready by primary school' CAR-NO-JOKEY Carer slept in his motor to make it as a wrestler and ended up Netflix poster boy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOT who quit his carer job to live in his car with his dog while pursuing his wrestling dream, ended up the poster boy for a major Netflix documentary in America. Luke Scoular, from Bellshill, Lanarkshire, left his career and home behind when he signed up for an intensive academy in London run by WWE legend Al Snow. 5 The Scot and his dog Odin slept together in a tiny Ford Fiesta as he tried to make it as a wrestler. 5 Luke with his champions belt and holding a lion's head. 5 Luke working out and as the face of Netflix Wrestlers series. 5 Drew McIntyre made it to the top of WWE but Luke Scoular is with Ohio Valley Wrestling - which launched John Cena along with Batista to global stardom. But having blown all his life savings on the course he had nowhere to live, so the 6ft 1in, 17 stone musclebound wrestling wannabe slept in his tiny Ford Fiesta with his husky Odin. Luke, 34, says: 'I'm a big guy and Odin was a big dug, weighing 47kg, so yes it was cramped. 'But I slept in the motor because I couldn't get a hotel that would take Odin and they were all a fortune anyway. 'So starting from that and ending up on a Netflix poster was surreal to say the least.' Luke was raised with his three brothers by mum and dad Lisa and Derek, starting work as a lifeguard in Wishaw Sports Centre, then as a personal trainer, before becoming a support worker for young adults in residential units. But he was inspired to walk away from it all after watching a video featuring wrestling superstar John Cena, 48, who has since become a Hollywood actor. However Cena also holds the Guinness World Record for granting more wishes - over 650 - than anyone else for the US charity the Make-A-Wish Foundation for kids with critical illnesses. Luke explains: 'A lot of wrestlers take part in Make-A-Wish and visit kids in hospital but John Cena is the most famous one for doing it. 'One night when I was home doing nothing I came across this video on YouTube with all these testimonials from kids he'd helped. It was tug at the heart strings stuff and brought a tear to my eye. 'I will never forget the date as it was November 3, 2017 and I had been toying with the idea of joining Al Snow's wrestling academy. 'But after watching John Cena and all the good he had done as a wrestler, I looked at the dug, he looked back at me as if to say 'Just do it'. 'So I did it and, bang, I chucked my job and drove down to London that night to start the six month course the next morning.' Luke bypassed the vibrant wrestling scene in Scotland, that has produced WWE champ Drew McIntyre and cult favourite Grado, as he believed moving south would allow him to concentrate on his training. He says: 'I needed a clean break with no distractions.' Al Snow and his team soon allowed Luke and Odin to stay in their gym where he worked as an informal janitor. He says: 'They saw I was sleeping in the motor so invited us to stay in the building. 'So I offered to keep the place clean and make sure it was ready for the guys to start training when they came in every morning. 'It was great as all I got to do was hammer it, practising for six or seven hours a day.' He adds: 'But I took to it like a duck to water. Wrestling comes naturally to Scots – we're battle-ready by primary school.' Luke worked on his ring persona as Crixus, named after the real-life Gallic Gladiator, and impressed Snow so much he was invited to move to the States to join Ohio Valley Wrestling - ironically the same place that launched John Cena along with Batista to global stardom. And it was there where the Netflix cameras turned up to follow the wannabes from across the world for the 2023 series Wrestlers. He says: 'When the film crew first came in to meet us, they found out I was Scottish and were like 'Wow'. 'They loved my story of how I'd quit everything to be a wrestler and spent about three months following me around. 'Then when it was finally shown things went crazy. I was getting flooded with messages from across the world and a few from back home too saying 'So that's where you f***ed off to'.' Luke, 34, is following in the footsteps of fellow Scot Drew McIntyre, 40, who also trained with Ohio Valley Wrestling on his way to becoming our country's first WWE champ in 2020, while Edinburgh's Joe Hendry made his WrestleMania debut this year. It led to Al, 61, who has shared a ring with the Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin, to declare that the Scots are 'having a moment'. But Luke admits: 'When Drew became WWE champ it p***ed me off at the time, as I wanted to be the top Scot. 'But I am secretly delighted for him and it only helps me because we have similar styles, so I play off of that sometimes and I've also called him out once or twice (challenged him), but nothing has come of that, so far.' However one part of the job that Luke truly loves is seeing the eyes of sick kids light up when he and his fellow wrestlers pay them a visit. He says: 'We do a lot of outreach stuff and have visited a children's cancer unit in Cincinnati and we've done a few things with Ronald McDonald House too. 'This was a big part of why I wanted to become a wrestler in the first place after watching that John Cena video all those years ago and seeing the sheer delight you can bring. 'I may get booed in the ring but I'm really just a big softy at heart.' Luke is now based in Louisville, Kentucky, where he recently got married to an American woman Rosey, who works for a supplement company who sponsors the Scot. And he's also swapped sleeping in his car for a hammock on his front porch. But sadly, his companion Odin passed away last year aged 24. Luke says: 'Weirdly I actually look back on those times with fond memories even though we were sleeping in a tiny Ford Fiesta. 'Odin came with me when I threw myself into a new unknown world of wrestling. I was able to stick it out because I wasn't alone as I had him.' He adds: 'So yes, it really is amazing to now be a professional wrestler and living the dream, but I couldn't have done it without him.'
