Heidelberg UK has announced a partnership with the Glastonbury Festival’s Free Press, the event’s long-running on-site newspaper. Now in its twelfth year, the Free Press is printed entirely by hand using a vintage 1950s Heidelberg cylinder press, with tens of thousands of copies distributed across the festival each summer.
Located in the Theatre and Circus fields, the Free Press tent also produces themed posters for sale during the festival, using the same seven-tonne press. The machine is still running in perfect condition more than 70 years after it was built.
The 70-year old Heidelberg cylinder press.
Unlike platen presses, the cylinder press delivers impressions in narrow bands where the cylinder contacts the type, allowing for greater force and precision. The process continues to draw interest from both younger audiences and industry veterans, intrigued by its tactile, manual approach in contrast to today’s digital workflows.
Heidelberg UK’s managing director Ryan Miles commented: “We are thrilled to partner with the Glastonbury Free Press. The Free Press at Glastonbury is a real piece of Heidelberg history. This year, Heidelberg celebrates its 175th anniversary, creating the perfect opportunity to give back to the local community.”
As part of the partnership, Heidelberg will sponsor an apprenticeship for a young person connected to the festival. The successful candidate will be trained as a printing machine engineer through the Heidelberg Apprentice Scheme.
The Glastonbury Festival runs from 25–29 June 2025, with the Free Press operating across all five days. Alongside newspaper production, the team will also be creating and selling poster prints using the same Heidelberg press.
