The new Cool Britannia Festival opened its doors for the first time at Knebworth House with a welcome party.

The Comet: The Mariachi's on the Barn Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Mariachi's on the Barn Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

Our photographer Kevin Richards was there to capture the sights of the 1990s festival’s opening night on Friday. You can see his pictures here.

Before Happy Mondays and Ocean Colour Scene headlined the main stage in Knebworth Park over the weekend, revellers were entertained by a freak show including fire breathers and Circus of Horrors acts, funfair rides and banging dance tracks in the Ministry of Sound Big Top.

Ibiza legend Brandon Block was behind the decks as the inaugural Cool Britannia kicked off on Friday evening.

DJ Alex P also took a turn in the MoS Big Top, with Rozalla and K-Klass joining the late-night dance party.

The Comet: Rozalla at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

Meanwhile over on The Barn Stage, DJ Jamie Taylor, JG Collection, The Mariachi’s and Britpop Collective performed for first night ticket holders.

Aside from the musical entertainment on offer, there were plenty of street food outlets to satisfy people’s appetites and themed bars, including pub The Rose and Crown, for thirsty festival-goers.

The Friday welcome party acted as a warm-up for the weekend’s main festivities, with main stage sets from the likes of Dodgy, Cast, Embrace, Razorlight, Toploader, Feeder, Faithless star Maxi Jazz and The Lightning Seeds supporting the Cool Britannia 2018 headliners Happy Mondays and OCS.

Cool Britannia is set to return to Knebworth next year, with dates and 2019 line-up to be confirmed.

The Comet: Brandon Block at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: JG Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSJG Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBritpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Dusk at the entrance of Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSDusk at the entrance of Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Steve of Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSSteve of Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBritpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Rozalla at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Alex P and K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSAlex P and K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSK-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Food stalls at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSFood stalls at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Bar staff gearing up for the rush at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBar staff gearing up for the rush at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Just time for quick beer before heading on stage with Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSJust time for quick beer before heading on stage with Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Brandon Block and Alex P at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block and Alex P at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Not sure where to go next at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSNot sure where to go next at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Main Stage closed until Saturday at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSMain Stage closed until Saturday at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: A couple enjoy the Big Top Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSA couple enjoy the Big Top Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Alex P and Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSAlex P and Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Brandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBrandon Block on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Alex P with K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSAlex P with K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Fun rides at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSFun rides at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: A couple of locals enjoying the funfair at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSA couple of locals enjoying the funfair at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Mariachi's on the Barn Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Mariachi's on the Barn Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Rose & Crown Pub at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Rose & Crown Pub at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Friday night dancing in Ministry of Sound Big Top at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSFriday night dancing in Ministry of Sound Big Top at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSMinistry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Ministry of Sound at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSMinistry of Sound at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Indian Food at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSIndian Food at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBritpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBritpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBritpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Britpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSBritpop Collective at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Ministry of Sound at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSMinistry of Sound at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Legendary Alex P plays for Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSLegendary Alex P plays for Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Ministry of Sound at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSMinistry of Sound at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Rozalla and Alex P on the Ministry of Sound Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla and Alex P on the Ministry of Sound Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: The Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSThe Freak Show at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Rozalla on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Rozalla on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Rozalla and Alex P on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla and Alex P on the Ministry of Sound stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSK-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Alex P at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSAlex P at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Rozalla and Alex P on the Ministry of Sound Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSRozalla and Alex P on the Ministry of Sound Stage at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: K-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSK-Klass at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)

The Comet: Camping at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDSCamping at Cool Britannia Festival 2018. Picture: KEVIN RICHARDS (Image: ©2018 Kevin Richards - all rights reserved)