There are plenty of different venues on offer in Guildford that would be good to hold a silent disco in. From the G Live to the Boileroom via many more besides, there are options aplenty in the town for those amongst you that like to have a party. There is an argument to be made, however, that no other venue offers the same backdrop that Guildford Cathedral does.
The venue itself is stunning at the best of times, but that goes through the roof when you introduce illuminations that light up the various aspects of the gorgeous old building. If you like to have fun in unusual places, this silent disco will be the event for you.
What Is It?
It isn’t exactly outrageous to suggest that you might not have heard of a silent disco before. After all, the very term seems to be something of a contradiction, given you can’t exactly have a disco if there’s silence there. What began as an idea of fiction in stories such as The Summer of 1993 and the Finnish film Time of Roses, which was released in 1969 but set in 2012, became a reality in the 1980s. Back then, what were known as ‘Walkman dance parties’ took place in Portugal, seeing attendees handed a Walkman and some headphones before dancing away to the music that only they could hear.
In the 1990s, eco-activists did a similar thing so as to be able to minimise noise pollution whilst enjoying outdoor parties. Prior to 2005, these silent discos were single-channel, meaning that all participants tended to be listening to the same thing. Since 2005, however, there has been the ability to hand people headphones that could be tuned into a variety of different musical choices, meaning that the person next to you might not be listening to the same thing that you are. In 2024, a series of events were organised in cathedrals around the United Kingdom and Europe, including Canterbury Cathedral, which this seems spiritually linked to.
What to Expect
When the series of silent discos were held in 2024, Guildford Cathedral was one of the venues that welcomed in revellers. In the end, around 1,000 people turned up to the party that drew to a close at midnight, heading home around seven and a half hours before the venue opened its doors once more, but this time for the morning worshippers. As the Chief Operating Officer of the cathedral at the time, Matt O’Grady, said, “On Saturday, people came to enjoy a space that would be otherwise dark and quiet. By generating an income in this way, we can keep the cathedral open.”
The group behind the silent disco has held previous events in the town that have sold out, which is why they have chosen to return. That there is an added bonus for the cathedral in the money such an event raises is better news for all concerned. This time around, the theme of the silent disco is music from the 2000s, seeing some of the best DJs in the United Kingdom heading along to play all of your favourite tunes from the decade, whilst lighting will be used to illuminate the stunning surroundings that you find yourself in. The rest of the attendees will be just as keen to enjoy themselves as you are, sticking on the light-up headphones in celebration.
Things to Think About
The first thing that you’ll need to decide is which session it is that you would like to attend. That is because the event is split into two distinct timings, with the first running from 6.30pm until 9pm and the second going from 9.30pm until midnight. The tickets cannot be transferred, so you need to make sure that you’ve made your mind up before you buy them. The event itself is strictly for those aged 18 and over, so you may need to provide ID on the night to prove that you’re old enough to be there. There is no waiting list for this, so once the tickets have sold out then you won’t be able to but any more.
Of course, the age limit means that there can be a full stocked bar available on site for you to be able to pick up a range of different alcoholic drinks. The venue is fully accessible, with some limited seating available for those of you that might need to sit down for a period of time. Although there is no dress code, the fact that the silent disco is taking place in Guildford Cathedral means that people are asked not to wear high heels, given the potential for damage to be caused to the cathedral floor. The first Silent Disco Inside Guildford Cathedral is taking place Friday August 14th, with the same occurring the following day.