‘Noel Gallagher downed champagne in my dad’s bath’… how Oasis took over Knebworth as sleepy village gears up for return

WITH its quiet winding lanes adorned by perfectly manicured lawns and hedgerows, Old Knebworth village does not appear to be a hotbed of rock ‘n’ roll fervour. So you might expect there to be some trepidation about the prospect of half a million Oasis fans descending on the area next September. Liam Gallagher from Oasis driving a golf cart at Knebworth Park in 1996 Credit: Alamy Oasis show at Knebworth in 1996 Credit: Getty Not a bit of it – the locals are mad for the return of Liam and Noel Gallagher. And even though they will be close enough to hear Oasis blast out hits such as Wonderwall in the grounds of the historic Knebworth House, many residents have registered to buy tickets for the most anticipated gigs of the decade. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Villagers have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Back in 1996 a quarter of a million fans turned up to see Oasis play two nights at Knebworth. It was a hedonistic affair with the band’s record label boss spending £250,000 on free booze for the star studded guests and Liam riding around on a golf buggy. And four years ago there were crowds of 170,000 when Liam performed twice as a solo artist. They recall bucket hatted strangers sitting happily on the kerbside, fans camping days in advance and knocking on the door of the pub at nine o’clock in the morning. Everyone, though, was having so much fun they cast no shadow on the idyllic Hertfordshire settlement which dates back to the Domesday books. Most read in Showbiz Knebworth House is Britain’s largest music venue, which staged its first festival, the Bucolic Frolic, back in 1974. Since then Queen, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Genesis and Robbie Williams have all entertained huge crowds on its lush rolling lawns. When Oasis performed in 1996 Lord Cobbold, who died in 2022 aged 84, was the owner of the estate. The canny aristocrat had the catering contract, including selling booze. Thousands of fans watched the Gallagher brothers headline live over the 2 days in 1996 Credit: Gill Allen – The Times Noel Gallagher sent crowds wild with his iconic Union Jack guitar Credit: Alamy The money earned helped build two turrets on the Tudor pile and Lord Cobbold named them Liam and Noel in honour of the Gallagher brothers. Having slept in a Winnebago on the immense grounds, Noel wanted a proper soak following the gig. Lord Cobbold’s son Henry, who is the current owner of the historic building, tells The Sun: “We’ve got a four poster bath as part of our main guest room, our old Tudor guest room, and so my dad brought him a bottle of champagne in the bath. “In interviews he said that he was brought champagne by a liveried servant. It was actually my dad.” Oasis performed sober, but Liam forgot they were supposed to be playing two nights and got legless on the first evening. The guests included the singer’s girlfriend Patsy Kensit and legend has it that Kate Moss had a pair of trainers helicoptered in so she could dance at the front of the stage. Screenwriter Henry, who used to live in Los Angeles, hopes that next September’s blockbusters concerts will help fund much needed repairs. He comments: “The rest of this house is still falling down. So, we do need them to come back and help us fix the rest of the roof.” Knebworth House, which is open to the public on selective weekends, is key to the village. Its attractions stretch back before the electric guitar was invented. Queen Elizabeth I stayed there, Sir Winston Churchill painted there and Charles Dickens acted there. Locals are willing to put up with the noise and traffic chaos on the tight roads if it helps out. Retired Alison Ewer, 61, from Old Knebworth village, went to the iconic 1996 Oasis gig and will try for tickets again. Standing in her half moon driveway she tells The Sun: “We were here for the ‘96 one. It was amazing. “Everyone was in good spirits. They were sitting on the grass verges and enjoying themselves. “This time I want to go with my children. Oasis appeal to all generations. “Their lyrics mean a lot to a lot of people.” Even closer to the action will be Reanne Leeliott, who rents a black timbered lodge within the grounds of the 250 acre country estate. The stage will be around 150 yards from her back garden. She beams: “We are buzzing. We can’t wait. I’m an Oasis fan. “When Iron Maiden played Knebworth this summer you could hear them from our back garden. “We will have a barbecue and invite friends around to enjoy Oasis.” Unused Oasis concert ticket from Knebworth Park, Hertfordshire, from August 1996 Credit: Alamy Retired Alison Ewer, 61, from Old Knebworth village, went to the iconic 1996 Oasis gig and will try for tickets again Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd But the 27-year-old bid writer is still going to try to buy tickets so she can get as close as possible. That was the same response from two men whose offices are also within the stately property, which has a history dating back over 500 years. Builder Phil Gover, 42, says: “I have registered for tickets. I went to see them last year at Wembley. “They were brilliant. I have been an avid Oasis fan for years. There are too many great songs to choose from.” Peter Smith, 57, from a ventilation and air conditioning company, adds: “The stage is only 150 yards from here. The field where the bands play is just behind the cricket club. “Oasis would be a great gig to go to. “Their four concerts next year will be good for the locals.” When The Sun visited on a beautiful autumn day, the only sound you could hear was the rustle of the trees in the wind. When heavy metal act Iron Maiden performed earlier this year the council had a team monitoring the noise levels. There will also be stewards directing cars and pointing people on foot in the right direction. Receptionists Maria Thorne, 57, and Jo Watson, 56, who work at a building firm in the village, have both applied for the maximum three potential Oasis concerts next year. Maria says: “Knebworth House is a national treasure. These concerts will help.” She spent days on the Ticketmaster website desperately hoping to get tickets for Oasis’s reunion tour last year, but kept getting “thrown out” of the queue. This time she is determined not to miss out. The Station Pub is planning to open its doors at 10am to serve breakfast and alcohol to fans Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Receptionists Maria Thorne, 57, and Jo Watson, 56, who work at a building firm in the village, are both eager for tickets Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Jo feels the same and adds: “What it brings to the local area is brilliant. I say crack on.” Even though there should be enough tickets for half a million people to see Oasis at Knebworth, it is worth doing everything possible to make sure you are one of the lucky ones. When the band performed in 1996 2.5 million people wanted tickets. And this time demand could be even higher. Chris Saberi, 72, who was visiting the village, is also excited about Oasis playing and has been to Knebworth to see Genesis twice. She reckons you can hear the bands play from her home in nearby Welwyn Garden City “if the wind is right.” Lee Barrett, 54, who has a MOT test centre in the village, is also trying to get tickets. But he adds: “It will cost me money, because we will have to shut on the Saturdays. It will be chaos on the roads, customers won’t be able to get here.” Perhaps, unsurprisingly, the businesses which are looking forward to working overtime during the Oasis concerts are the two local pubs. The Lytton Arms in Old Knebworth intends to have a bar in the carpark to cater for the thirsty fans. There will be tents in case of rain creating an “under canvas village.” Adam Nicoll, head of marketing at Anglian Country Inns which runs the pub, says: “We are discussing a themed menu. Perhaps Champagne Superpavlova as a dessert or Wonder Waldorf salad.” One of the bar staff remembered fans wishing to quench their thirst at 9am in the morning when Liam Gallagher played Knebworth in 2022. He adds: “They were here after we locked up as well.” In the main village of Knebworth, The Station pub is right next to the railway station. Its landlord Lloyd Willis is going to open the doors at 10am to serve breakfast and alcohol. Lloyd, 53, says: “We are super delighted that we have got these top gigs at Knebworth. I’d love to go to the gigs, but I will be working, serving pints of beer to all the arrivals in their bucket hats. “When Liam played it was two nights of chaos but a lot of fun. They were a happy bunch. “They arrive from the train station, wondering where Knebworth House is, see there is a pub and think lets figure it out in there.” Normally fans are directed to go to Stevenage train station, which is a two mile walk from Knebworth House, and told to make their way to the concert from there. But there are enough independent minded fans who choose to go to the village instead. The locals don’t have far to travel. Like millions of others, though, they are hoping to make sure they will be inside the grounds of the country house when Liam and Noel emerge on stage. Louise Rayment, 42, who works for a ventilation company in the village, concludes: “My husband is a massive fan as are the staff who work with me. “We all want to go. It’s what we will talk about for years to come.” Builder Phil Glover, 42, is also hoping for tickets to the big event Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd The pair are set to descend on the stadium this time next year Credit: Joshua Halling/Oasis/PA Wire Comment now