Client: LS Events
Partners: Ginger Owl Productions, Festaff, G4S
Location: London
Duration: 2 weeks (build, show days, and break)
The Brief
For LIDO Festival 2025, LS Events and Ginger Owl Productions set out to tighten staff access and improve entry flow across the event site. With thousands of casual staff, contractors, and crew arriving daily, they needed a scalable access control system that could validate credentials on arrival, reduce misuse, and keep the flow of people moving – even at peak times.
Our Solution
Access93 deployed a complete scanning operation across key gates, back-of-house entry points, and crew catering – working alongside Festaff and G4S to maintain tight perimeter control throughout the event.
Secure QR Pass Scanning
Each day, staff received secure, single-use QR codes by email, valid only for the correct shift time and access level. These passes could be revoked instantly in the event of loss, misuse, or reissue – ensuring only the right people were getting onto site. We focused entirely on QR validation for day staff and casual crew.
Speeding Up Entry
We scanned around 1,000 staff per day during peak show days – and to keep up with demand, we introduced our new Cube scanning system, a high-speed, contactless desktop QR reader. Compared to traditional handheld scanners, Cube reduced entry times by over 70%, allowing teams to process more staff in less time, with fewer queues and better control.
We also trialled self-service fast lanes, enabling trained staff to scan themselves during high-volume entry windows – freeing up security and admin staff for other tasks and reducing bottlenecks.
Catering Scanner Support
Access93 also provided technical support and on-site maintenance for Ginger Owl’s catering scanning setup. This ensured that:
- Only authorised staff accessed crew meals
- Duplicate meal claims were flagged
- Entry logs could inform catering quantities
- Over-ordering and food waste were reduced
This wasn’t just about access – it supported sustainability goals and helped improve budget accuracy and food planning.
The Security Wins
- Live QR validation stopped reused or shared passes at the gate
- Revocation in real time kept the list clean and current
- Digital verification backed by photo ID records via GoAllAreas
- Flow rate tracking helped organisers manage staffing and resourcing
- Catering fraud prevention supported sustainability and fairness
From the scanners on the gate to the systems behind the scenes, this was security in action – powered by fast, informed decision-making and real-time accreditation data.
Outcome
With Access93 technology and crew on site, LIDO 2025’s access control ran smoother, faster, and more securely than ever. We didn’t just scan people in – we gave the organisers a live view of what was happening, who was where, and how the system was performing every minute of the day.
Smart access. Faster flow. Fewer risks. That’s how we do security at scale.