Police are objecting to plans for a two-day birthday celebration for the founder of Bewilderwood at his Broads estate, pointing out it actually appears to be a music festival.
Permission to hold the event at Hoveton House in September has been sought from North Norfolk District Council, with the application paperwork describing it as "Tom's Birthday '24".
The property is owned by Tom Blofeld, whose family have been landowners in the area for centuries, and is close to the Bewilderwood attraction which he set up.
The party organisers are planning to put on music, comedy, yoga and arts workshops and are also seeking permission for DJs to keep playing music until 3am and to sell alcohol until this time.
However, the birthday plans have run into objections from police and council officers, who believe the proposed event is actually a commercial music festival.
Although described as a "birthday" event in official documents, it is also being advertised online as Earworm Festival.
The festival - which has been held before at the venue - has its own website, offering tickets selling for up to £85 and is expected to attract up to 300 revellers.
The website has information on travel, ticket refunds and the ethos of the event - "be the silliness you wish to see in the world".
It also has a lengthy "welfare" section, which gives advice on how to avoid "being a sex pest" and guidance on intoxication and consent.
This confusion has led Norfolk Police and council officers to object to the plans, arguing there is a "lack of transparency" about what is actually taking place.
They are also concerned about the impact on nearby villagers after a similar event last year resulted in six calls to police from the public.
They complained about "excessive noise and bass" which was affecting "the whole community" according to one caller.
Michelle Bartram, licensing officer for the police, said: "Due to the event being more of a music festival rather than an event with yoga and art workshops, further measures need to be discussed on the promotion of crime and disorder... It is felt that it would not be appropriate for the licence to be granted in its current state."
FAMILY AFFAIR
Livia Kestenbaum Levi, who has applied for the license from the council, defended the event, saying it was primarily a "family and friends" affair and anyone buying a ticket will be informed of its "close-knit nature".
She explained that describing it as "Tom's birthday" was a "remnant of last year" when it was held on Mr Blofeld's birthday in May, but admitted it was a "bad look".
"I assure you everything else in the application is accurate" she added.
Acknowledging "silly mistakes" were made last year, Ms Levi promised to limit the disruption caused by noise through soundproofing with hay bales and directing speakers away from the direction of Wroxham.
Photographs have also been submitted to the council to provide evidence of the "wholesome wellness activities" taking place.
Ms Levi claimed the complaints received last year were from one person - a tenant of Mr Blofeld's - who has been warned about this year's event.
But according to villagers, the disruption was more widespread, with several people complaining about the noise in comments on a Facebook post made by local magazine Broads Bulletin the morning after last year's event.
Hoveton Parish Council also complained to NNDC that several residents had been disturbed.
SILLINESS... BUT NO HEADDRESSES
The event's website describes its "ethos" as "be the silliness you wish to see in the world" and has a lengthy "welfare" section, instructing revellers how they should behave.
It includes an instruction to avoid wearing items of clothing from other cultures, stating "Never forget, someone else’s culture/ethnicity/race/religion is NOT a costume! (For example: Any non-native American sporting a native headdress will be asked to take it off)."
Ms Levi has said this year's Earworm Festival will likely be the last of its kind held at the site.
The organisers will learn the fate of their application on July 16, when a panel of councillors will debate whether or not to approve it at a licensing committee meeting.
BEWILDERWOOD AND BOND
Tom Blofeld - who turned 60 in May - is a children's author who based the Bewilderwood attraction on his characters and stories.
His LinkedIn profile describes him as "head of silliness" at Bewilderwood.
He is the son of a former High Court judge and nephew of Henry Blofeld, the cricket commentator.
The family name is thought to have been the inspiration for that of James Bond's foe Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
Ian Fleming, the 007 creator, went to school with a member of the family.
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