Latitude secures Henham Park home for 25 more years

Latitude Festival will stay at Henham Park near Southwold, Suffolk, for another 25 years after organiser Melvin Benn signed a new lease during the event's 20th anniversary.

Latitude Festival will remain at Henham Park near Southwold, Suffolk, for another 25 years after organiser Melvin Benn revealed he had signed a new lease. The announcement came on Sunday as the festival marked its 20th anniversary and continued a run that has turned it into one of the UK's biggest music and culture events, drawing a total crowd of about 135,000 people.

Benn told festival-goers on Sunday that the agreement will keep Latitude based at the estate in Suffolk well into the future. The festival was launched in 2006 as a modest event, with a peak daily attendance of just 4,500, but it has since grown into a four-day celebration of music, comedy, theatre, literature, poetry, dance and science.

Melvin Benn smiles at the camera on the site of the Latitude Festival. He has white hair and wears glasses and a dark jacket. It is just his face in the shot. Behind him, there is a lake and some trees. The background is out of focus. — Image caption, Organiser Melvin Benn set up the Latitude Festival 20 years ago

What did the organiser reveal on stage?

Benn was discussing the festival's 20-year history on stage with Prof George McKay of the University of East Anglia when he revealed he had signed the 25-year lease. The festival's founder and organiser set it up 20 years ago, and this year's event brought that history into focus as attendees heard the news directly from the main stage.

In the build-up to this year's festival, Hektor Rous, whose family own the estate, told the BBC he was

"really proud"

to have hosted it since 2006. His comments reflected the long association between the event and Henham Park, which has been its home since the festival began.

How has Latitude grown over 20 years?

Latitude Festival has expanded from a small gathering into a major annual event with an eclectic mix of bands and artists. It now attracts a total crowd of about 135,000 people and is known for offering far more than music alone, with literature, poetry, dance, theatre and science all part of the programme from the start.

A colourful sign with words such as COMEDY and THEATRE written on it at Latitude Festival. Behind it are trees. — Image caption, Latitude Festival is as much about comedy and theatre as it is music

This year’s headliners included David Byrne, Teddy Swims and Lewis Capaldi. Singer-songwriter Tom Odell was among the highlights on Saturday, making his Latitude debut and adding to the festival's reputation for combining music with comedy and theatre.

What was one of the standout moments this year?

One of the most unusual moments of the 20th anniversary event came when Craig Brown, 33, and Tara Sweeting, 29, chose Latitude Festival as the place to get married. The couple exchanged their wedding vows at the festival, making their ceremony part of the event's milestone year.

Craig Brown and Tara Sweeting are smiling and laughing as they get married in front of a taller man wearing a white shirt with a script in his hand. In the background are two other men, who are casually dressed. — Image caption, Craig Brown and Tara Sweeting exchanged their wedding vows at Latitude Festival

The festival's mix of music, arts and unexpected personal moments has helped define its identity over the past two decades. This year's celebration also prompted reflections on its history, including the growth from its 2006 launch to its current status as a major summer fixture in Suffolk.

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