Photo by Marek Richter
Yes, it’s true: this year’s Beach Boutique has been cancelled. The event was set to take place on the weekend of September the 4th and 5th 2009. Norman has been battling alcohol addiction and has spent time in rehab earlier in the year.
Councillor David Smith, Brighton and Hove City Council cabinet member for culture and tourism, said he was disappointed Beach Party 5 had been cancelled because of the number of people it brought to the city.
20,000 people attended the last event, which took place along Madeira Drive. The event was completely different from 2001’s inaugural Big Beach Boutique, which saw 65,000 people hit Brighton’s beach or 2002’s which attracted 250,000. The change from free party to commercial venture – mixed with high ticket costs, poor sound and inaccessible location have not helped the reputation of the event develop.
While the original Beach Boutique parties are remembered with disbelief and are stuff of legend, the recent incarnations would probably not be too missed.
on Jun 30th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
“2002’s inaugural Big Beach Boutique” What happened to the far superior 2001 event that was attended by mainly locals and not day-trippers!
on Jun 30th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Pig City you are right. My mistake. Thanks for pointing it out. Text updated to say “2001’s inaugural Big Beach Boutique, which saw 65,000 people hit Brighton’s beach or 2002’s which attracted 250,000!”