Solihull Moors Football Club is in a race against time to obtain an alcohol licence for its upcoming Moors Tribute Festival, set to take place on the Armco Arena pitch this Bank Holiday Sunday, May 3. The event, featuring tribute acts for Queen, Taylor Swift, and Sam Fender, has already attracted strong interest, with over 1,000 tickets sold within the first 24 hours after going on sale in January.
If successful, the club plans to make the festival an annual celebration. However, with the Bank Holiday approaching rapidly, the club must secure the necessary licence to sell alcohol on the pitch, which is currently not covered under the existing premises licence for the venue.
Solihull Council has scheduled a special licensing panel meeting on April 20 to decide on the application. Council officers noted that while a premises licence is already in place for the football club, it does not extend to the pitch, where the festival will be held. The requested licence would permit alcohol sales and live, recorded music, as well as dance events from 11am to 10:30pm, with public access until 11pm.
READ MORE: Birmingham Woman Serves 16 Years for ‘21-Month’ Sentence, Now Back in Prison Amidst IPP Controversy
READ MORE: Major E-Scooter Operator Threatens UK Exit Over Restrictive Regulations
Festival director Ian Rogers, known for his work with regional events such as Solihull Summer Fest, is leading the new venture. The application specifies a maximum capacity of 5,000 attendees for 2026, with no licensable activities taking place within the football stands themselves. A comprehensive Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP) will be developed, addressing entry conditions, drug and weapons policies, alcohol control, and traffic management. Local residents will receive notification and access to a dedicated hotline for concerns.
Despite these preparations, the application faces opposition from local councillor Laura McCarthy, representing the Elmdon ward where the Armco Arena is located. McCarthy expressed concerns over inadequate parking and dispersal plans, highlighting past issues with residents being blocked from driveways, difficulties for buses, emergency service access problems, and the council incurring additional costs to manage parking challenges. Repeated attempts by the councillor to work with the club on these matters have gone unanswered, leading her to reluctantly object to the licence application in the absence of solutions.
The licensing panel’s decision on April 20 will determine whether Solihull Moors can proceed with their vision of combining football and live music in a new annual tradition.