Alcohol will not be available at this year’s British Motocross Grand Prix, following a strong objection from local police who described last year’s event as “lawless.”
Set to take place the weekend of 21 June at Matterley Basin near Winchester, Hampshire, the Grand Prix is a key round of the FIM Motocross World Championship and is expected to draw between 7,000 and 10,000 fans from across the UK.
However, Winchester City Council has rejected all five Temporary Event Notices (TENs) submitted by organizers that would have allowed alcohol to be sold at various locations on-site, including bars, a VIP marquee, and an entertainment area.
Organizers have since submitted a full premises licence application in an effort to reverse the decision. But with the public consultation closing just three days before the event, the window for approval is extremely tight.
Police Cite Serious Safety Issues
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary strongly opposed the TENs, citing long-standing concerns over the safety and conduct at the event — issues they claim have gone largely unaddressed for more than a decade.
Police referenced the 2024 Motocross of Nations event, where they observed several serious incidents: underage drinking, fireworks being launched near crowds without proper security or fire protocols, reckless driving within the site, and multiple breaches of licence conditions.
One staff member was assaulted and knocked unconscious for 15 minutes, and tragically, one individual died from what was later determined to be MDMA toxicity and biventricular cardiac hypertrophy.
“These events have repeatedly failed to implement effective changes,” police said, noting that “lessons have not been learned.”
