Strict process to be granted entry into UK's biggest swinging festival as organiser explains why it's so important

The organiser behind the UK's biggest swinging festival has revealed the details of the strict vetting process which attendees must go through - and why it's so important.

Hundreds of like-minded people are set to descend on Lincolnshire from today (17 July) for the three-day event, Swingathon, which is returning for its fifth year in a row.

It's set to be a celebration of ethical non-monogamy, kooky kinks, freaky fetishes and the LGBTQ+ community.

According to the masterminds behind Swingathon, Matt Cole and his wife Stacie, the field which festivalgoers will call home this weekend is a 'safe space' for sex positivity.

It's like spending a night getting up to no good at a swinging club or attending a 'play party', but on steroids, Matt told LADbible.

Live bands, risqué performers, drag queens, burlesque dancers and DJs will also keep attendees entertained all weekend at the event, which describes itself as a 'celebration of uniqueness.'

Explaining what people heading to Swingathon should expect, Matt said: "It’s essentially a standard festival, but aimed at people in the lifestyle who want a safe space to be around like-minded people and just enjoy themselves.

"It’s just one big community," he told LADbible. "You’ve got all walks of life, all together, and everybody gets on. Morals, world views and whatever else go out the window.

"There's no arguing about ‘I believe this’ and ‘you believe that’ and politics or any bulls**t. The vibe of the place is just something different."

Swingathon attendees have to pass a strict vetting process before getting their hands on a ticket (Instagram/@swingathon.uk)

Although anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the festival in theory, Swingathon is guarded by a degree of exclusivity, as not just anyone can get a ticket.

Punters stump up £210 for a weekend pass to the lifestyle event, while it will cost couples £250, or there's also day tickets going too which aren't as dear.

But as Matt explained, you've got to tick a few boxes before you're granted access to Swingathon, as the crowd is carefully curated.

Organisers individually 'verify' every single attendee before the festival begins, with the Swingathon website explaining that this step ensures the 'safety, security and privacy of our members.'

Explaining why he implemented this stringent process of scrutinising potential attendees and the importance of it, Matt said: "Every person in this field is vetted, we don’t just let anyone in.

"They go through a vetting system so that people know that this field is a safe space with like-minded people. They all know the etiquette, they all know the rules, it's not the free for all that people think it is.

"Everybody knows all of the rules and everybody gets along."

The businessman said that 'not just anybody can buy a ticket', telling LADbible: "You have to go through a lot of different processes to get here. You would have to join your local swingers club or join one of the apps."

To ensure everyone at Swingathon is on the same page and non-swingers aren't just jumping on the bandwagon, you must prove you are 'active within the lifestyle' and 'have a deep understanding of what the festival is about.'

Revellers can stay in plush bell tents during the three day event, which cost £255 (Instagram/@swingathon.uk)

If you are part of an online platform for swingers to connect - such as FabSwingers, SpicyMatch, Pineapple App or GroupFun - you can simply offer up your username, which organisers will then cross reference to confirm.

You can also get your hands on a Swingathon ticket if you have been recommended by a 'trusted regular attendee', have a membership with certain clubs, or have pleaded your case with organisers about 'your connection to the lifestyle.'

As well as those entry requirements, Swingathon also encourage attendees to carry out a sexual health test before attending, to ensure that everyone is as protected as possible.

Matt reckons this year's Swingathon is set to be the biggest and best yet, saying of the crowd: "It’s growing. But I’ve got my hard core fans who continue to come every year.

"It’s the fifth year now and I would say maybe 50% of this field are still the same people from the first year. This year I’ve got 30% new attendees. We are expecting just short of 1,000 people this year."

The Swingathon ringmaster then suggested that critics of his swinging festival should really check it out for themselves, or at least dip their toe in the swinging pond by checking out their local lifestyle club.

Explaining why he believes you can't knock it until you've tried it, the Swingathon boss said: "Everybody should go to a lifestyle club of some description and just try it.

"You don't know until you tried it that it might not be for you, but chances are, it will be. I always say, if I invite 10 people, nine people would love it.

"It’s just down to the vibe of things, the community, the friendships you make."