Henley Regatta

Project Overview

Sweco was appointed to monitor and manage entertainment noise arising from various events at the Temple Island venue of Henley Royal Regatta, in order to ensure strict compliance with the limits set out in the venue’s entertainment license. The venue operates riverfront entertainment events during the full period of the Regatta, with the peak of activity occurring during the men’s regatta.

Entertainment acts comprise live music and DJ sets across three separate stages. To monitor and maintain compliance with the limits set out in the venue’s entertainment license, via direct measurement and liaison with mixing desk technicians, artists and DJ’s, we had to identify likely risks and respond to on-site demands, both proactively and reactively.

Our Solution

Recommendations for improvement are made throughout the event, which are then incorporated into event planning for the following year. The venue operates within the village community of Remenham, where the local residents are highly sensitive to any perceived disturbance or noise source. The venue also operates up to three separate entertainment locations at any given time, within a very tight noise limit.

A thorough knowledge of the site, surroundings and wind phenomena are essential for the successful management of the event, within the license criteria. Sweco has managed the event for a number of years, thus bringing accumulated experience to the planning and management of the event each year. Consequently, the sensitivity of neighbouring residents has been appropriately managed, with instances of conflict vastly reduced to a point of neighbourly acceptance, in conjunction with a successful series of blanket compliance events and favourable responses from the licensing authority.