Drowned in Sound

Search

Home > News

reading cup festival

Reading and Leeds liberated from Carling death-grip; nation rejoices

47 votes
? by Kev Kharas
Words: Kev Kharas
Posted: 26 Nov '07, 18:26

The Reading and Leeds festivals will no longer bear the name – and, hopefully by extension, the taste – of beer manufacturer Carling.

The split brings to an end a fuzzy-headed nine year partnership between the events and the drink, potentially clearing the ground for a new beverage to come in and cater. Staropramen? Leffe? Old Rosie?

Probably not, but it's heartening to think that it couldn't possibly be any worse.

Festival Republic's Melvin Benn made a speech: "It was by mutual agreement that both parties felt the time was right to pursue new opportunities."

There are rumours that the event will now just revert to its original, sponsor-free name.


Got news? Email us at newsdesk@drownedinsound.com for back slaps and a credit...

Comments

- Post a new comment on this article

The Truth

It could be worse, it could be Heineken.

Damomad | 26 Nov '07, 18:29 | Send note | Report this | Reply

heineken is nice!

.

joshua_t | 26 Nov '07, 19:53 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Fuck heineken!

Pabst Blue Ribbon!

tohereknowswhen | 27 Nov '07, 14:27 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Forget this alcohol nonsense

and let's make festivals sophisticated!

Twinings In The Park
The Darjeeling Weekend
Clotted Creamfields
etc

nicscarlet | 27 Nov '07, 09:14 | Send note | Report this | Reply

^

I like this idea

jako_kenako | 27 Nov '07, 09:28 | Send note | Report this | Reply

bf

I like Heineken. It's a premium lager

grockle | 27 Nov '07, 10:47 | Send note | Report this | Reply

i agree

for a lager it's alright

jeanpierre_papin | 27 Nov '07, 13:00 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Skol Festival?

polko | 26 Nov '07, 18:29 | Send note | Report this | Reply

*SUPER Skol Festival?

That would be ace.

badmanreturns | 26 Nov '07, 19:47 | Send note | Report this | Reply

.

WHITE ace?

cghv | 27 Nov '07, 09:13 | Send note | Report this | Reply

yes...

please please please....

darknessfillsthevoid | 27 Nov '07, 14:42 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Old Rosie - brilliant.

Except in the Commercial Tavern.
It tastes odd and makes people totally bitchfaced.

Jakc | 26 Nov '07, 18:35 | Send note | Report this | Reply

yes

old rosie!!!!!

tugger | 27 Nov '07, 10:59 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Please

Let it be Jack Daniels.
Not that it'd be cheap even if it was.

dionisio | 26 Nov '07, 18:37 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Strongbow

pls.

moless | 26 Nov '07, 18:44 | Send note | Report this | Reply

starpramen

Jordan_229_2 | 26 Nov '07, 18:44 | Send note | Report this | Reply

plz

Gin & Tonic Festival

rich321 | 26 Nov '07, 18:55 | Send note | Report this | Reply

What about

Corona?? Sounds gallant

onslow | 26 Nov '07, 18:58 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Ross on Wye

Reading Festival

brokenbricks | 26 Nov '07, 19:05 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Nice gag

but you meant Hay on Wye.

H-Stein | 27 Nov '07, 09:40 | Send note | Report this | Reply

daaaaaaaaaaamit

i blame my father

brokenbricks | 27 Nov '07, 22:08 | Send note | Report this | Reply

pppppppppppp

the pimms weekend.

joe_riot | 26 Nov '07, 19:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

The Stella Artois Aggro Weekend.

That's pretty much what it has become anyway.

Alex-in-Ciderland | 26 Nov '07, 19:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

JAIGERFEST!!!!

W00t.

Zampano | 26 Nov '07, 19:46 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Is there anyone

(apart from Wrightylew) that actually drinks Carling out of choice? It really is a shit beer. As long as they start selling Jagermeister to go with my Relentless I'll be happy.

badmanreturns | 26 Nov '07, 19:48 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I overheard a fella in the pub

arguing with his friend about that. He berated the guy for ordering Fosters, then got himself a Carling. A really bad decision when you think that in Manc there was a real ale festival going down, and some nice interesting bitters on tap.

amputee-porn | 26 Nov '07, 20:03 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Thank F**K for that

It's the worst larger for a hangover the next day you feel like death. Branding is now part and parcel of large events such festivals. So lets hope that a move fitting suitor can secured.

Tresco | 26 Nov '07, 21:11 | Send note | Report this | Reply

tennents

aye

BigMarty | 26 Nov '07, 21:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Timothy Taylor's Reading & Leeds festival?

Has a certain ring to it, non?

wisdom | 26 Nov '07, 21:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

T In The South

:)

But seriously. Wouldn't it be nice if it just had, like, a really nice range of beers. After all, the weekend is supposed to be about entertainment isn't it? You almost forget you're paying £150 for fun when you visit their bars.

Still, hope they keep the 10p cup refund thing. Every time I went for a drink this year, I'd pick up any cups en route to the bar and usually knocked a couple of quid off my round each time. And they got a relatively litter-free site. Winner!

Damian | 26 Nov '07, 22:13 | Send note | Report this | Reply

hobgoblin?

gotta be

since-last-summer | 26 Nov '07, 22:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Surely

Rolling Rock Festival would be the coolest name?
But it'll probably become WKD-Fest or something...

armo27 | 27 Nov '07, 01:46 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I dont think I ever bought a drink at the bar

the two times I went to Reading.

750ml water bottle + 1 litre bottle rum + 2 litres of coke + crate of cans = weekend sorted

Jesus_Quintana | 27 Nov '07, 02:37 | Send note | Report this | Reply

It could well be worse

Fosters Weekend, anyone?

dove_from_above | 27 Nov '07, 09:27 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Blanc Weekend

I might go for that.

auntie_gigolo | 27 Nov '07, 10:06 | Send note | Report this | Reply

tenner says;

it'll be something like 'the T Mobile weekend' or equally gay and multimedia-ey.

joeydubya | 27 Nov '07, 12:06 | Send note | Report this | Reply

or O2 will get involved

Carlsberg will prob pick up the beer then and we'll be stuck with Tuborg *vomits*

keifallen | 3 Dec '07, 12:28 | Send note | Report this | Reply

...

How about the Carlsberg Weekend? It'd probably be the best weekend in the world.

Stealthy | 27 Nov '07, 12:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Thats just so ripe...

just waiting to happen, that...

begreen | 27 Nov '07, 13:22 | Send note | Report this | Reply

The Absinthe Weekend

Reading and Leeds Festivals

Gwhit | 27 Nov '07, 12:38 | Send note | Report this | Reply

i think it should be an alcohol free festival

it is normally an alright line up but full of annoying little 14-16 year olds getting drunk for the first time and burning stuff. i vote for the dr pepper festival

jeanpierre_papin | 27 Nov '07, 13:06 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I bet Red Bull get their claws in

and am surprised they haven't before to be honest...

failing that it'll be AOL-ClearChannel-Virgin- ...er -LIDL Presents Reading Festival and we shall all gaffaw when jo whiley has to say it eight times every highlight program...

amyblue | 27 Nov '07, 14:26 | Send note | Report this | Reply

You have a point, Mr Papin

Whilst I like booze, if I had to make the choice between no booze and no idiots, I'd happily abstain.

Damian | 27 Nov '07, 18:52 | Send note | Report this | Reply

It has to be..

Brown Ale!!

Milburn | 27 Nov '07, 16:31 | Send note | Report this | Reply

At least

We might be able to get a decent beer in the arena now. I just used to buy a crate of Kronenbourg for a tenner from one of the dodgy convenience shops in Reading town centre. ;D

Lofisongsaregreat | 27 Nov '07, 17:24 | Send note | Report this | Reply

It will probably be...

Tuborg at this rate!

RachBisdee | 28 Nov '07, 12:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply