How to Take Card Payments at Festivals

The past year has been a challenging one for the festival industry, with music, food and film festivals across the globe put on hold as a result of the pandemic. But, as the vaccine rollout ramps up and lockdown restrictions continue to lift, the UK festival scene is preparing itself for a mighty return so get ready to dust off those wellies.

With Reading and Leeds Festival tickets selling out in less than two days, it’s clear that festivals are going to be more popular than ever this summer.

Revellers are starting to dig out their tents and get reacquainted with neon face paint, while those with pop-up businesses and stall holders are busy getting ready for their long-awaited return.

If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place – so, read on to find out how you can make the most of this festival season.

Accept contactless payments on the go with Square Reader

Easy to set up and transparent pricing. Get started today with Square Reader for just £19 + VAT

Worrying about wallets? Don’t.

The risk of festival punters losing their cash in a mosh pit or mislaying wallets while wrestling with tent poles is very much a reality of festival-going, and festival stalls offering an alternative to cash can save their customers from such a fate by making payments simple. How? Contactless.

Tempting as it may seem to create your own contactless system with pre-loaded cards or other seemingly simple methods, it’s not that easy without the know-how and experience to back it up. That’s where Square comes in, ready to recharge your summer celebrations.

With five countries converted to our contactless systems, and millions of happy customers, including market vendors and food stall merchants who love our portability, we’re ready to bring security, ease of use and a little bit of style to the UK’s top festivals.

A Headline Act

The Square Reader accepts both contactless and Chip + PIN card payments. Your customers can even make a purchase with their phone, as it accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay. Basically, if your customers want to buy something, Square makes sure they can. It’s also our most affordable device at just £19 (+ VAT).

But, if you’re looking for an all-in-one device for your festival ventures, that takes card payments and prints receipts, then the Square Terminal is your go-to. At £149 (+ VAT), it’s super portable, with a long-lasting battery, and accepts all types of payments. Both devices are contract-free, so you don’t have to pay any monthly fees – just a flat rate with each transaction.

Combine your Square Terminal or Reader with our easy-to-use POS System. Just download the free mobile app and you’ll be able to design a bespoke system that suits your business needs. Enjoy access to a variety of features, including:

Let’s Get Festive

Whether you’re selling festival foods, holding up the beer tent or flogging merchandise, contactless is the perfect solution to your sales-processing needs. Bid farewell to long queues, packed stalls and employees reluctantly calculating change. Contactless is a safer, quicker form of payment and the UK seems to know it.

The last year has seen a huge push for contactless payments, with around 90% of all card payments being contactless. April 2020 also saw the contactless spending limit increase from £30 to £45, while the latest Budget in March 2021 announced it will rise further to £100.

Festivals are the ideal place for contactless card payments – with their fast-paced orders and non-stop happy hours – so make sure your stall is equipped for this popular way of spending.

Square Knows How to Party

With so many things to plan and consider in the run up to festival season, an affordable and convenient payment system can make your job that little bit easier. With our portable Square Reader and Terminal, you can offer your customers flexible payment options – including contactless – so they don’t have to worry about hiding cash in their socks.

Better still, when it comes to managing your sales, our simple POS system lets you keep track of your stock and create employee schedules, even when you’re on-the-go.

So, get ready for a summer of fun, and not of fretting over your festival finances with Square!

Get Started With Square

Contact us so that we can help you find a solution that suits your business.