Where is the event taking place?
Summer Ball 2024 is taking place in Founders' Square and the surroundings of the breathtaking grounds of the magnificent Grade I listed Founder's Building. The Festival Stage is situated in Founders Square under a large stretch tent offering an enclosed festival experience with Founder's Building providing a stunning backdrop. The festival site expands beyond the square and includes activities and entertainment zones all the way along the East Facade, the Windsor Gap, Spine Road and the Bell Mouth.
What time is the event?
Doors open at 6pm with some exciting surprises for those of you who get there early on. Curfew for the event will be at 4am straight after we take our Survivors' Photo. That's 10 hours of fun for those of you who want to party hard!
When do tickets go on sale?
For those who have signed up to the priority list, tickets go on sale in the priority window from 12pm (midday) Monday 25 March and is available for 48h. General sale goes on sale from 12pm (midday), Thursday 28 March.
Are you selling any early bird tickets?
Yes - early bird tickets (£60 / 25% off General Sale Price) will be drawn for 300 lucky students who have signed up to our priority list. The priority list sign up window is open from Monday 18 March (midday) to Sunday 24 March (23:59).
On Monday 25 March 300 student numbers from the sign up list will be drawn at random and those lucky individuals will have the opportunity to purchase a £60 ticket for a limited 48h window (150 of these will be reserved for final-year students).
How much are tickets?
General Sale and all guest tickets are £80. However, there are a limited number of reduced-price tickets available in our priority sale window at £60 (25% off the General Sale price).
What's included in my ticket?
Your ticket gets you entry to the event which features a range of huge performances and fun attractions, including access to the fairground rides. You'll also bag a souvenir wristband and pocket-sized programme.
Can I bring guests/how many tickets can I buy?
As a Royal Holloway student, you can purchase your ticket plus a maximum of three guest tickets. Guests can be either Royal Holloway students or friends/family from home. Please note that you will have to buy any guest tickets at the time of purchase of your own student ticket.
Do I need a physical ticket?
All tickets purchased online are automatically assigned to your personal account. You will need your Student ID Card with you at wristband exchange in order to collect your wristband(s) which act as your ticket for the event.
When and where can I pick up my wristband?
Wristband collection will take place on Thursday 30 May and Friday 31 May. The exact times and location will be emailed to you before the event.
Can I collect my wristband on the door?
We strongly encourage you to collect your wristband(s) on Thursday 30 May - the day prior to the event. If you are unable to make this day, wristbands can be collected on Friday 31 May up until 10pm (last entry) from the SU ticket office outside the Students' Union. Please remember that any guests will need to be present when collecting wristbands as they are secured at the point of exchange.
Do I need to bring ID?
Students must bring their Royal Holloway Student ID Card and photographic proof of age ID (driving licence, passport, PASS card) to the event for identification purposes. Guests who are not Royal Holloway students must bring photographic proof of age ID (driving licence, passport, PASS card).
Do I have to sign my guests in?
Yes, your guest(s) must be present with you when you collect your wristbands. We'll need to take down their details and place the wristband on their arm at the time of exchange.
Where is the event entrance?
We are mixing things up this year and have worked hard to provide a revealing entry to the site via the Founders South East Corner. This way anyone coming up from the bottom of campus can easily get to the entry point via the campus forest. Our staff will check your wristbands and do the necessary body searches for your safety before allowing you entry to the spectacle that is SB24.
What's the latest time I can get there?
Doors open at 6pm and we advise attendees to enter the event early to ensure the best Summer Ball experience. Last entry is at 10pm and there is no re-admission to the event post that time.
What activities are there on site?
Beyond the great music, food, and drinks, we offer loads of other experiential activities for you to enjoy. We'll be bringing you a night to remember with fairground rides and traditional games, as well as some additional activities which will be announced as we get closer to the event. Keep your eyes peeled.
How many music areas does the event have?
There is one main stage, one headphone disco arena and three entertainment zones full of activities for you to enjoy.
What is happening with the music after midnight?
Due to the new location of the main stage and the way noise travels from Founder's Square, there are some restrictions to the volume of live music we're allowed to play after midnight.
In order to deliver you the full Summer Ball experience, we've opted to turn the main stage into a Headset Rave from 00:00-04:00. The music you're hearing will still be played live, it'll just be coming through your headphones (rather than a quieter speaker system) offering you a unique and truly immersive Summer Ball experience.
What is the Headset Rave?
From 00:00-04:00, the main stage will become a Headset Rave. The music you're hearing will still be played live, it'll just be coming through your headphones offering you a unique and truly immersive Summer Ball experience.
Is there a cloakroom?
Yes - and it's completely free of charge! We want you to have a hands-free experience to enjoy dancing to the best music, tasting the best food and sipping the best drinks. You'll find the cloakroom in the Windsor Building.
Do you accept cash?
All our bars and food outlets at the event will be cashless. Payment is accepted via debit/credit card only.
Are fairground rides free?
Yes! All fairground rides are included in the cost of your ticket, and you can jump on as many times as you want throughout the night. Access to the fairground for Priority ticket holders is from 6pm-4am while General Sale ticket holders get access from 7pm-4am.
Can I bring my own food & drink?
As a licensed event we are unfortunately unable to allow you to bring in your own food or drink. We have made sure to provide an exciting selection of drinks from several bar outlets, and an amazing selection of street food delicacies that cater for all dietary requirements.
What else can/can’t I bring?
The following articles must not be brought within the site – food, drink, animals, knives, illegal substances, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), fireworks, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, bottles, glass items (including perfume and mirrors), cans, poles, umbrellas, and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety. You may be searched; any items deemed a danger to others may be confiscated by staff and/or you may be refused entry. Right of admission is reserved by the venue management.
Yes to coats (we’d advise bringing a rain coat or poncho if rain is forecast); yes to camera/phone; yes to flat shoes; yes to dress to impress; yes to smiles and good vibes; yes to your best dance moves.
Can I leave the event and come back later?
Due to capacity management, we do not permit re-entry into the event.
Is there lost property at the event?
If you happen to lose a personal item, please speak to a staff member. They should be able to transmit a radio message to all staff and ask if anyone has handed in your item. Alternatively, if you have found something, we kindly ask you to pass it to our staff at the cloakroom in Windsor Building. They will then pass it over to our Security team for safekeeping. For any lost property enquiries post-event, please email helpdesk@su.rhul.ac.uk.
What is the Survivors' Photo?
If you make it to 4am, you deserve to be celebrated! We've made it Summer Ball tradition to gather all you hardy souls (and our amazing staff members) with Founders as the backdrop for the official Survivors' Photo. This then gets posted on social media and becomes part of history, providing the memory of a lifetime for our leavers.
What do you mean by Survivors' Breakfast?
If you purchased a ticket at full price within the priority window, you'll receive a Survivors' Breakfast voucher when you collect your wristband. This can be redeemed for a breakfast bap at 4am, after the Survivors' Photo has been taken. Please note this is non-transferable and can only be redeemed from 4am-4:30am at the dedicated stall on your way out of the event.
I'm under 18, can I attend?
Just like our SU Venue and Medicine club night events, Summer Ball is restricted to those who are 18+ years of age. All attendees and guests are required to provide proof of age if asked by the door staff, and you can be refused entry if you are unable to do this.
Can Royal Holloway alumni attend?
We love seeing former students at Summer Ball and we'll be holding back a limited number of tickets specifically for our alumni community. We'll be in touch via email to let you know how you can purchase tickets. You are also welcome to attend as a guest of a current student.
I'm banned from the Students' Union, can I buy a ticket?
If your ban expires before the day of the event (Friday 31 May) then you will be able to purchase a ticket, but not until your current ban has expired. Please note, you may not purchase a ticket for any person(s) who will still have a ban in force on the night of the event.
Can I sell my ticket on?
Tickets are non-transferable and cannot be sold on. Any student selling or attempting to sell a ticket above face value will be subject to disciplinary action and risk being banned from the Students' Union premises and activities in line with our Code of Conduct.
I can no longer attend the event, can I get a refund?
All sales are final, and refunds are not available on tickets once they have been purchased (including duplicates or purchases made in error, tickets bought for the wrong event or non-attendance due to personal choice, illness or injury). Further details can be found in our Purchasing T&Cs.
If the Summer Ball is cancelled, will I get a refund?
In the unlikely event that the entire event is cancelled by the SU, refunds will be made available to everyone who has purchased a ticket in advance, at face value. If an event cannot take place or is delayed because of circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we will not be liable for any direct or indirect losses incurred by you or your guests. Examples of such circumstances include (without limitation): war, terrorism, civil commotion, fire, flood, adverse weather, natural disaster, act of God, outbreak of disease, epidemic, pandemic, any strike or labour dispute, interruption or failure of any utility service, any government order, rule regulation, or action by a government or public authority. Further details can be found in our Purchasing T&Cs.
Why are Summer Ball tickets £80?
Putting on an event the size of Summer Ball isn't cheap. We have to factor in the costs of the acts performing, the infrastructure, and the staff who are required to work the event. As a registered charity, we must ensure that our costs are at least covered, with any surplus (if any) reinvested back into services for students. Any money you spend with us at events such as Summer Ball ultimately comes back to you, funding things like clubs and societies, support for course reps, and vital services including our Advice Centre.
Why are the Quads not being used this year?
As part of a routine review of health and safety measures in Founder’s Building against updated guidance, there have been some changes to how some spaces in and around the building are used.
We have worked closely with various stakeholders across the University to develop an exciting festival-style event layout and ensure a memorable experience for all attendees at Summer Ball 2024, whilst still retaining Founder's Building as a stunning backdrop to the event.
I'm worried about drink spiking, what are you doing to combat it?
The Students' Union takes a zero-tolerance approach to the spiking of drinks and will work closely with the University and Police to push for prosecution with the full force of the law at every available opportunity.
To read about our initiatives and the additional measures we have in place to keep you safe at our events, please visit our Spiked campaign page.
I think I've been spiked, what should I do?
If you think you or a friend has been spiked, please immediately inform a member of the bar staff, Good Night Out Crew, or Security team who will assist you. For further guidance on the steps you should take, please visit our Spiked campaign page.
If you didn't report an incident on the night but suspect you may have been spiked, please email venues@su.rhul.ac.uk with the details so that we can investigate accordingly.
How do I report sexual harassment?
As a Students' Union, we believe that we have the duty to challenge harassment and violence at any instance and encourage all students to report it.
Sexual harassment is not just about physical touching or groping, it can be applied to any unwanted and persistent behaviour of a sexual nature.
If you experience any form of sexual harassment at any of our events, you can report the incident to any member of the bar staff, Good Night Out Crew, or Security team. The situation will be investigated immediately, and appropriate action taken. The staff will also advise you if you want to follow up on the complaint.
If you feel able to talk to someone about it or you'd like further support, you can book an appointment with one of our advisors by visiting the Union Helpdesk or emailing advice@su.rhul.ac.uk. Alternatively, the University provides free counselling services to support you. Please email counselling@royalholloway.ac.uk.
I'm having trouble logging into the website, what do I do?
Try following the steps provided in our login guide. If you're still struggling after following the guide, please email marketing@su.rhul.ac.uk stating your student number and the error message you have encountered.