A ROW has broken out between Lord Rotherwick, owner of Cornbury Park, and the organiser of the Cornbury Festival, which has been held there for the last six years.

The dispute could result in two music festivals taking place within ten miles of each other on the same weekend next year.

The event has been called the ‘poshest festival in Britain’, attracting a celebrity and well-heeled crowd.

Lord Rotherwick told The Oxford Times yesterday: “A fundamental difference has arisen between us which will make it impossible for us to work together here.

“But I have signed an agreement with the Mama Group, recently bought up by HMV for £46m, and we shall stage a festival herein the first two weeks of July next year.”

But events organiser Hugh Phillimore, who has rented a cottage on the Cornbury estate for ten years, said: “I own the name Cornbury Festival and have spent many years and many millions of pounds building it up.

“I shall stage a festival within ten miles of Charlbury next year on July 1, 2 and 3 — but it will not be at Cornbury Park.”

He refused to be drawn as to the exact location of his 2011 festival.

He added: “There are several stately homes near Charlbury — Ditchley, Eynsham, Blenheim — but I am not saying yet where the festival will be held.”

Lord Rotherwick said that the proposed name for the festival in the deer park of his stately home was The Wilderness at Cornbury.

He added: “It may be on the same days as Hugh Phillimore’s. I know nothing of his intentions. The festival at Cornbury Park will have more variety than previously — more layers and more food.”

Mr Phillimore said: “Cash flow is difficult and I asked Lord Rotherwick for a small extension to keep it going, but he said no. It is sad but there is no bitterness.”

He said that the matter was unlikely to go to court, adding: “We are both too sensible for that.”