Scotland’s Largest Black Tie Event Upstaged by Tractor-Themed Barn Party

The night of 18 September, I found myself in the back of The Rule speaking to members of the Welly Ball committee before their launch event. This is my second semester writing for the Events section of The Saint, and truthfully, I am close to running out of ideas. What is there to say? These things can all seem the same. At least at this one you can wear big, tall rain boots.

Welly raises money for the Charlie Waller Trust, with whom they have had a close relationship for fourteen years. This UK charity is dedicated to transforming young people’s mental health, while also equipping the parents, carers, and teachers who support them with the knowledge and tools to make a lasting difference. I have spoken to many St Andrews students about their respective charities and organisations but few have been as enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their purpose as the members of the Welly Ball committee. Co-Director Victoria Davila insisted that many of the committee are there for their passion and tight-knit relationship with the trust. I found this to be an inspiring change of pace from other committees, who, it can sometimes seem, see the people they raise their money for as an afterthought. My chat was brief, but I did get the sense they cared.

“Welly Ball is the largest black-tie event in Scotland,” said Eva Shrimpton, the Co-Director of Welly. Unfortunately, this was not reflected in my experience of their launch event. As I’ve said, Welly Ball puts philanthropy first. So, why then put your launch on the same day that Barn Bash launches — a committee focused solely on binge boozing and dubious cash flows? People flocking to these events are usually not thinking about where their dollar goes.   

I also do not find The Rule to be a particularly nice place. I have seen it transformed a few times for certain events. Not this time, though — it was just the Rule. If I had wanted to spend my days in dark sweaty bars boasting big burgers, I would have stayed stateside. The Vic fall out has left a dark hole in the St Andrews nightlife scene. The Rule is, in all fairness, the obvious next choice for a night out, but others have themselves taken a crack at the nightlife scene. Lupo’s gave it a shot, albeit a misguided one. Forgan’s now apparently make their bid. I know this because I left Welly briefly just to see what the competition had to offer. They offered a crowded dance floor and a more pleasant venue, but as I said, these things are all the same. It does make you wonder why Barn Bash has more powerful gravity than the committee organising the largest black-tie ball in Scotland. 

I hypothesise that it has something to do with the crowd they draw for their event. They gather from multiple Scottish universities and bring with them some of the most ridiculously dressed people you have ever seen. A cohort of value-store Burberry models flood the quaint streets of St Andrews, clashing with Harrow alums and Upper East siders. The ball is often interrupted by food being hurled through the air, along with physical and verbal altercations, tainting the reputation. I asked them about this, to which the team said they recognised this issue and were making efforts to tackle it by adding more security to the event. Although a club's reputation is not something easily changed in the short term.

Welly’s heart is clearly in the right place — their loyalty to the Charlie Waller Trust is admirable, their committee genuinely cares, and their ball remains a cultural fixture far beyond the bubble that is St Andrews. But when it comes to the messy business of student nightlife, sincerity only goes so far.

Photo by St Andrews Welly Ball committee