Event Industry News
Sport has always been a massive ingredient to British heritage. Traditional and affluent sports such as Polo, Cricket and many others, have been recorded for centuries, with the first game of polo being organised on Hounslow Heath in 1869. With last summer’s London 2012 Olympics bringing tourists from all over the world to the UK’s financial capital; the UK has never before been so active.
It’s always healthy to shake things up a little. As enjoyable as they can be, sports such as football, tennis, rugby and other popular sports, can become routinely and boring. So why not see what else there is on offer, the summer provides the perfect opportunity to try out some alternative sports, and who knows, you could end up discovering a sport that you love.
Here is the choice of 10 alternative sports that are worth giving a go this summer.
1. Zorb Ball or Zorbing. Imagine yourself wrapped up in a big ball of bubble wrap, rolling down a hill, this is practically what Zorbing is. Competitors are placed inside a larger inflatable ball and race with others downhill. Fantastical.
2. Roller Derby. If you love roller skating then this is the sport for you. Roller Derby is played on oval track with two teams of five skating in the same direction, basically, the team with the most points, wins. Simple but a whole lot of fun!
3. Sepak Takraw. Played across Asia, this sport is a tricky one. The sport is similar to Volleyball but players aren’t allowed to use their hands and therefore must use their bodies, legs, head and feet instead. A lot of unusual shapes are pulled in this sport.
4. Kite Surfing. Unfortunately, due to the Great British weather, this is a sport you may want to try on holiday where good weather is guaranteed. Kite surfing is water sport where kite surfers use the power of a kite to surf the water.
5. Paintballing. This sport can be played competitively or recreationally at any time of the year and is often played for birthday parties or stag and hen do’s. In large groups, paintballing isn’t too expensive and is a good excuse to go with friends to share the experience. This under-cover military style of sport, but with colourful paint, is something everyone should try.
6. Water Spheres. Maybe not so much a sport but for a bit of excitement and if you fancy walking on water without getting wet, water spheres are definitely worth an attempt. Similar to Zorbing but this time the plastic bubble is on water, many companies provide water spheres for different events.
7.High Ropes and Wire Adventure Course. A brilliant idea if you want to conquer any fears of heights. There are many courses up and down the country, the adventure course is like an assault course but up in the trees and is brilliant if you want to get your adrenaline pumping.
8.Archery. Archery is a sport we all know of but how many of us have actually tried it? This sport requires skill and accuracy, originating from hunting and combat.
9.Indoor Sky-Diving. If you’ve always wondered what it feels like to skydive but have always been too scared to jump out of that plane, thousands of feet up in the air, then indoor skydiving is an experience you’ve got to try. Divers are placed in a wind tunnel which gives them the same feeling as you would if you were sky-diving. Be prepared to be blown away.
10.Bog Snorkelling. And the best alternative sport is saved till last, well, that’s if you enjoy snorkeling and mud. Competitors must battle against each other to complete two consecutive lengths of a bog, relying only on flipper power. It’s all a great deal of muddy fun.
For something a little less extreme, why not check out our article on popular Summer Sporting Events in the UK 2013
DO Choose the right tent
It might only be used for the one weekend, but when it comes to buying a tent, cheap is not always cheerful. £15 might seem like a bargain for a 2-man tent from Asda, but waking up in the morning to a pool of water at your feet is when you realise the spending a little bit extra on your temporary home would have been worth it in the end.
Have a look at our article ‘Peppermints top five tents’ on what we think are the best tents on the market.
DO Choose your pitch carefully
When choosing where to pitch your tent, just remember three things. Paths, Toilets and Hills.
It might be convenient to set up camp next to the path that leads to the main arena, but it’s not so convenient when a drunken person falls into your tent at 3am after tripping over your guy ropes.
Toilets, again, it might be convenient to camp near a block of toilets, but half way through the first day and after thousands of people have paid them a visit, the smell will become unbearable.
When it rains, the water runs downhill and collects at the bottom, so try and avoid camping in this area. Even on completely flat ground you run the risk of becoming waterlogged, if you manage to pick that one patch of soft land that become a swamp as soon as it rains.
DON’T bring valuables with you
There is, at no point, going to be a need for you to have brought your iPhone, iPad, SLR camera, £3000 Rolex or £1000 cash; so leave it at home! Festivals are not the securest of places, even if you think you’ve put them in a safe place, they still won’t as safe as they would be locked in your house. Forget about all the flashy gadgets, invest in a £9.99 ‘festival phone’, a couple of disposable cameras and a watch.
DON’T lock your tent
Having a padlock on your tent won’t deter would-be thieves; it screams ‘I HAVE SOMETHING WORTH STEALING’, after all your tent isn’t made from solid bricks and mortar, it’s made from thin nylon.
DO remember to watch what you are drinking
Festivals may seem like the perfect opportunity to drink for 3 days solid, but when mixed with spending the whole day out in the sun, it’s bound to leave you dehydrated. Remembering to keep yourself hydrated may seem like a chore, but maybe the difference between spending the weekend in a festival field or spending the weekend in a hospital bed.
Also bear in mind where or who you get your drink from. Bottles at festivals are famously receptacles for all sorts of unpleasant waste, it may look like a bottle of water but there is no telling what is in it. Remember when your mother used to tell you not to accept anything from strangers while playing in the street, well that applies to festivals too. If it’s not bought from a licensed vendor, don’t drink it
DON’T expect to see everything
If you go to a festival expecting to see everything, then chances are you will miss the best bits while running from stage to stage. Invest in a programme on the first day, and mark out all the acts that are essential viewing and allow yourself time to see the festival site, looking round all the quirky stalls in the market, or just popping into the comedy tent to sit and chill for half an hour.
DO Specify a rendezvous point
The last thing you want is to be separated from your friends in a field full of people, but it happens all the time. Now is not the time to rely on your mobile, as chances are that even if you do manage to get signal to send a text, they won’t have signal to receive it. Specify a meeting place that is easy to find, and a time that you are to meet.
DO Be prepared
This applies for to every eventuality. Be it the weather, or having to wait in hour long queues.
Make sure you pack enough warm clothing; it may be scorching heat during the day, but that usually means low temperatures at night. Likewise, the last thing you want to be stuck in is jeans and a long sleeved top when temperatures are topping the high 20’s, so remember to pack for all kinds of weather.
Queues can go on for what seems like days, so make sure you either come prepared or leave enough time to queue. Queues for the onsite cash point can be in excess of an hour, so to avoid having to queue, bring as much money as you think you’ll need for the weekend. If bringing large amounts of cash make sure you separate it just in case you do get pick pocketed.
Queues for the toilets can be inconvenient at the best of times, but adding the alcohol into the equation and it turns to hell. Avoid the queues and invest in a TravelJohn; just find a discreet corner and you’ve avoided the mile long queue to do your business.
DO Prepare yourself a festival essentials kit
Or check out Pack Kit for a pre-made festival essentials kit. Essentials should include:
- Ear Plugs- Not only to ensure you get a good night’s sleep, but also to protect those sensitive ears of yours when you’re stood in front of massive speakers, jammin’ out to your favourite band.
- Torch- Because we’ve all fallen over guy ropes while trying to navigate our way back to our tents. Also, if you do have to use the toilets at night, it’s always nice to be able to check the state of the toilet you’re about to enter.
- Poncho/Pac a Mac- If you are unfortunate to experience bad weather, you will be eternally grateful to have one of these to hand. Compact and Light, some that available over festival season are actually quite stylish
- Wet Wipes /Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer- Not much to say about these, just make sure pack them. When there are no onsite showers, the trusty ol’ wet wipe will leave you feeling as fresh as a daisy.
- Sun Cream- Even if it appears to be overcast during the morning, chances are that your skin is slowly burning. There is no harm in applying sun cream before you leave your tent in the morning, and if it is sunny then remember to top up during the day. There is no fun in being tent-ridden because you’ve got sun stroke.
DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!
Article Written by Peter Spence
Any music festival-goer who enjoys their ale or craft beer has had good reason to feel somewhat overlooked when it comes to the bar menu in the average festival bar tent. More often than not the options have been limited to lager or cider, and usually just the one brand of each.
However, this state of affairs has begun to change as a number of summer music festivals are now beginning to introduce craft beers and real ales into their offer. While the boutique festivals such as Latitude and Beacons in Yorkshire made their name by catering to a range of differing and niche tastes, increasingly the big events are getting in on the act. So that now you can find an ale tent at mainstream festivals such as Reading / Leeds and T in the Park.
Incidentally, a debate is currently raging between the real ale and craft beer camps as to their respective merits, and undoubtedly there are distinctions between the two in terms of the brewing and serving process. But clearly both have developed from small-scale, independent brewers disillusioned with mainstream beers and passionate about brewing for taste rather than sales.
However, there is a crucial difference around image. It’s probably not entirely accidental that the real ale drinker has come to be thought of as a bearded, middle-aged man in an over-sized jumper.
Whereas new craft beer brewers such as Thornbridge or Brew Dog are owned and operated by young, media savvy staff who are introducing cool design to their labelling and endorsements from bands such as Reverend and the Makers. The beers are also given an edgy, dangerous image with names like Dead Pony Club and Punk IPA.
At the recent Craft Beer Rising Festival in Spitafields, East London, 40 breweries attended presenting 200 beers over the two days. DJs from Get Low, London Disco Society and the legendary Norman Jay provided the sounds.
All this has drawn in a new generation of young, hip drinkers bored with the same old mass produced tap beers found in the majority of high street pubs and bars, and who are now enjoying evenings out tasting a variety of hoppy and malty brews.
And for those music festivals that are still lagging behind in terms of their beer offer, there is always the option of advance ordering a case of your favourite brew online to take with you. The real-ale or craft beer drinking festival-goer need never go thirsty again. Want to know how many units you are drinking at an event? Check out our article.
Grandmaster Flash
Derrick Carter b2b DJ Sneak b2b Mark Farina
Joy Orbison Boddika Bonobo James Zabiela
George Fitzgerald Huxley MJ Cole Midland
//*DJ Falcon Virginia Breach Giles Smith James Priestley*//
X-Press2 Benjamin Damage Spencer Parker
Maribou State The Mountain People T Williams
Jaymo & Andy George Medlar Greymatter KRL
Acid Mondays Evan Baggs Francis Inferno Orchestra
Throwing Snow Pedestrian Michael James Wolf DJs
Blackhall & Bookless Funk E Federico Grazzini
Defex Milou Tom Rankin Richard Rowell
Plus Some Very Special Guests . . .
Huxley
We’re among Huxley’s rapidly growing legion of fans. His bass-driven house sounds have seen him become highly in demand as both DJ and producer. We’re bringing him to the forest!
Bonobo
Bonobo joins us hot on the back of his fifth studio album release The North Borders. A downtempo pioneer,expect fusions of jazz, electronica, trip hop and a whole lot more.
Mark Farina/DJ Sneak/Derrick Carter b2b2b
Not one, not two, but three Chicago house legends go back to back to back for an English festival exclusive. Do not miss this!
James Zabiela
UK maestro, James Zabiela has pushed the limits of what can be achieved on the decks for over ten years. We can’t wait to hear what he brings to this year’s festival.
Benjamin Damage
Welsh-born Benjamin Damage has become one of the hottest names in techno music over the past few years. His dark, driving, low-end sets never fail to take you on a unique journey. A perfect fit for a forest festival!
Jaymo & Andy George
Jaymo & Andy George continue their rapid rise to stardom with a performance at this year’s festival. Expect massive jumping house from the youngest DJs ever to record a BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix.
MJ Cole
We’re (sincerely) thrilled UK Garage legend M J Cole will be playing at this year’s festival. A true electronic music pioneer.
Boddika
One half of Instra:mental and Nonplus boss Boddika joins us for a boundary-pushing journey into the darker realms of electronic music.
DJ Falcon
Bringing a certain je ne sais quois to the party is French DJ and producer DJ Flacon. This guy’s worked closely with the likes of Cassius and Daft Punk in an already glittering career.
Breach
The deeper darker alias of Ben Westbeech launched his label Naked Naked back in 2010. We can’t wait to see what he brings to the forest!
Leaving the coast behind us, Zoo Project Festival 2013 has truly returned to nature moving deep into a luscious British forest, at Boughton House, Kettering in the county of Spires & Squires, Northamptonshire. From August 30th to September 1st, the biggest names in electronic dance music, hosted by some of the world’s leading club brands, are joining us in the forest to unleash the animal inside us all and push the dance festival scene to new and unimaginable heights.
The music goes on for longer! That’s right because we’re moving into the depths of a forest we’ll be going even later this year, with music in arenas starting from 12 noon daily and going on till 3am! That’s 15 hours of electronic music a day!
Camping is included with every 3-day ticket and our secure campsite will have plenty of toilets, showers, drinking water, plus BBQ and fire pits, shops, food outlets and much more! However for those of you seeking a more glamorous or alternative form of accommodation why not check out what else we have to offer? Tipis, Yurts, Gypsy Wagons and even a 5-star pop up hotel – we’re one of the only UK festivals to offer such varied accommodation choices. Visit http://www.thezooproject-festival.com/accommodation to find out more.
You still have time to get your free ticket to this year’s festival! Simply find four friends who want to have the time of their lives, get them to purchase a ticket through our Wolf Pack Group offer and you’ll receive your ticket absolutely free. It’s that easy but hurry this offer ends on 1st June. Start your Wolf Pack Group here http://www.thezooproject-festival.com/tickets
Strawberries and cream at the ready in London! The start of the summer of sport in the UK is pulled into focus by Wimbledon (24th June – 7th July). Murray Mount will be filled with tennis fans, whilst those lucky enough to be get a seat in centre court will be making the most of the various bars serving Pimms and lemonade.
Andy Murray is currently ranked 2nd in world tennis and his passion in the 2012 Wimbledon tournament tugged at the heart strings of the nation. Having recently overtaken Roger Federer, Murray will be holding the hopes of the nation on his shoulders. There are certainly high hopes for British tennis.
Ascot will bring the ladies and their hats to the champagne bars, while the Ashes (10th July – 25th August) will be watched in pub gardens in the country and outdoor bars across the cities (Howzzaat?!). There is much for the summer of 2013 to live up to, the 2012 London Olympics brought sport into focus, with the popularity of athletics increasing tenfold.
Since the end of the Olympics many have been asking whether there will really be an “Olympic Legacy”, but from 26th-28th July London will be hosting the London 2012 Anniversary Games. This will give London another chance to showcase the venue, meaning that those who could not make it to the Olympics will be given a chance to experience everything the venue has to offer, from the sports to the general aesthetics of the venue and even the stadium bar!
Great London Swim – © Copyright Nigel Chadwick
Anyone looking for something more unusual will find the Great London Swim on 31st August, which is a 1 mile swim from the Royal Victoria Docks; you can even compare your time to the Olympic open water swimmers of 2012! Or if you’re further north you can get involved in the Tin Bath Races on the Isle of Man (13th July) which goes across the island, its link to the Castleton Ale Drinker’s Society, suggests the potential for some good quality ale on top of entertaining sport!
Although the weather might let us down this summer, the sport and entertainment is unlikely to disappoint. We can look forward to some exciting and interesting moments this summer; bring on another summer of great British sport!
Posted on May 31, 2013 by Sarah
More new live music and DJs added to the Bestival line-up with Crystal Fighters, Jon Hopkins, The Correspondents, Valerie June, East India Youth, Hudson Mohawke, Greg Wilson, Micky Finn plus spoken word from Howard Marks and many more announced to play the Isle Of Wight based festival this September.
Also HMS Bestival will be heading to Ibiza for W.A.R! at Ibiza Rocks Hotel in August with Rob da Bank, Jaguar Skills and Shy FX with a ship voyage in the afternoon followed by a festival-fuelled knees-up evening on the island.
BESTIVAL ADDS MORE NEW MUSIC!
LIVE MUSIC:
CRYSTAL FIGHTERS / JON HOPKINS / THE CORRESPONDENTS /
VALERIE JUNE / EAST INDIA YOUTH / TYTHE / LE CAROUSEL /
SEAN MCGOWAN / SIGNALS / GOLDEN FABLE / CHERISHPORT /
SARAH CLOSE / NEW CITY KINGS / THE SLOW SHOW / TROUMACA /
VELVET STREAM / WIGHT HARMONY / MR TOM
DJ SETS:
HUDSON MOHAWKE / GREG WILSON / MICKY FINN / BOBBY TANK /
JFB SCRATCH / CHRIS TOFU / HANDSOME DAVE ROCKER /
REEPS ONE / HEAVENLY JUKEBOX / INTROS OUTROS/TYTHE /
JEROME HILL / BEN HOO / LONG JACK / MOJO FILTER / PETE CALLARD / REV MILO SPEEDWAGON /
TOM WILLIAMS / WARM DJS / OLLI DUTTON / THE DUDES
SPOKEN WORD:
HOWARD MARKS
PLUS:
HMS BESTIVAL SETS SAIL TO THE WHITE ISLE
FOR W.A.R! AT IBIZA ROCKS HOTEL
Bestival, 5-8th September 2013
Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight
With the recent news that our Friday headliner will be party starter extraordinaire Fatboy Slim playing a very special Bestival Birthday Bash set, our triumvirate of amazing must-see headliners is complete as he joins the previously announced Elton John and Snoop Dogg. And now, Bestival HQ’s attention turn to adding yet more incredible new live music and DJs to the mammoth line-up. Scooping the Best Major Festival award last year yet retaining our boutique sensibilities, Bestival’s spectacular 10th birthday this September 5th-8th is going to be the greatest show on earth with more fun per square metre than you’ll find anywhere else; it’s absolutely unmissable!
Rob da Bank says: “HMS Bestival is well and truly under way, steaming across the high seas picking up even more musical passengers. Crystal fighters are Bestival stalwarts and about to go stratospheric, Jon Hopkins has made one of the electronic albums of the year and no party is a Bestival party without Hudson Mohawke and The Correspondents…all aboard you crazy landlubbers!”
We’re very pleased to announce that Crystal Fighters are among our latest litany of vital new acts that are getting us all hot under the collar. With one of the most incredible and visceral live shows around they’re a truly mind-blowing experience that you’d be mad to miss. With their second album Cave Rave out this week, the band are fully charged and ready to rain down their unique brand of mayhem on the Bestival crowd, making our 10th birthday bash that bit more special.
But that’s not all as we’ll also have live sets from sometime King Creosote cohort and purveyor of epic, widescreen bliss Jon Hopkins, everybody’s favourite raconteur, Howard Marks, bass driven swingers The Correspondents, Memphis soulstress Valerie June (whose debut album, ‘Pushin’ Against a Stone’ is out now on our sister label Sunday Best), much fancied aural architect East India Youth, Sunday Best’s secret weapon Tythe, Phil Kieran showcasing his psychedelic song-craft with new project Le Carousel, new voice of the people Sean McGowan, driving post-harcore force Signals, spectral acoustic electronic types Golden Fable, the Isle of Wight’s own Cherishport, acoustic soloist Sarah Close, Essex songsmiths New City Kings, alt-folk Mancunians The Slow Show, hotly tipped B-Towners Troumaca, alt-pop rockers Velvet Stream, Bestival’s Island choral competition winners Wight Harmony and indie-banger-pop from Mr Tom.
Keeping your feet moving long into the night will be an array of on-point selectors including Hudson Mohawke whose production prowess is so in demand he’s currently rubbing shoulders with the likes of Kayne West. An undoubted wonky genius who channels a seemingly endless array of goodtime grooves from hip-hop, dub, future RnB, downright dirty funk and beyond into a seamless dancefloor decimating spectacle, Hudson is working on the follow up to his acclaimed Butter long-player and we can’t wait to see what wild new alloy of sounds he has in store for us.
We’ll also have sets from Hacienda legend Greg Wilson, Jungle don Micky Finn, glitchy eletrofunk wunderkind Bobby Tank and the incredible JFB Scratch who recently mixed up a decade of Bestival goodness for us which you can watch here. Plus we’ll have Continental Drifts’ Chris Tofu, party destroyer Handsome Dave Rocker, beatbox champion Reeps One, Heavenly records’ sublime Heavenly Jukebox, the previously mentioned Tythe rocking his Intros/Outros look, rave historian Jerome Hill, deep and warm techno fiend Ben Hoo, Bestival Island DJ competition winner Long Jack, old skool electro disco chameleon Mojo Filter, Portsmouth’s Pete Callard, the genre-defying Rev Milo Speedwagon, house maestro Tom Williams, London DJ collective Warm, radio supremo Olli Dutton and eclectic mix warriors The Dudes.
In the spirit of nautical adventuring, this August, HMS Bestival will be visiting another beautiful island to bring the sea faring party to W.A.R! at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel. Rob da Bank will have the Balearic beats on hand on Friday 16th August for the HMS Bestival x W.A.R! Ship voyage in the afternoon, then back on the island at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel, the main event will take place in the form of a festival-fuelled royal knees-up with Jaguar Skills, Shy FX and other special guests jumping aboard the decks for the first ever HMS Bestival x W.A.R! event. For more information and tickets, click here.
Finally, we’re very sorry to say that The Child Of Lov has cancelled all of his summer dates, so he won’t be joining us at Bestival as previously announced. Never fear, however, there’s still a truckload of ace stuff happening across the weekend, so hopefully no one will be too put out!
And remember keep checking www.Bestival.net and our Facebook and Twitter for all the latest news. And don’t forget to tag your tweets #hmsbestival.
BESTIVAL TICKET LINKS & INFORMATION:
www.ticketline.co.uk/bestival-tickets / 0844 888 4410
Ticketmaster / 0844 844 0444
See Tickets / 0871 220 0260
Skiddle
Adult Ticket with entry from Thursday 5th September – £190
Adult Ticket with entry from Friday 6th September – £180
Adult Premium ‘Wild Copse’ Camping Ticket – £316 (more info)
Student Ticket with entry from Thursday 5th September – £180
(For full-time students only. Valid NUS or ISIC ID required at the box office. No other student ID accepted)
Teen (age 13-17) Ticket – £127
Teen (age 13-17) Premium ‘Wild Copse’ Camping Ticket – £158 (more info)
Child (age 12 & under) Ticket – Free (but you must obtain a ticket)
Child (age 12 & under) Premium ‘Wild Copse’ Camping Ticket – Free (more info)
Campervan Tickets – £90 (per vehicle)
Advance Car Parking – £11 (or £15 in cash on arrival)
- All Tickets will incur a booking fee.
- There are no Day Tickets.
NEW WEEKLY PAYMENT PLAN
We’re pleased to announce that we are offering a 10 week payment plan which means that an adult ticket can now be bought at a payment of £19 per week (Thursday entry) or £18 per week (Friday entry) over 10 weekly payments.
Only available online via: www.ticketline.co.uk/bestival-tickets
NB: Booking fees will be charged with your initial transaction.
Anyone who has already purchased a 2013 ticket (or Early Bird ticket) can pay the difference to upgrade to a Wild Copse Premium Campsite ticket – just call Ticketline on 0844 888 4420 and they’ll be able to help.
Festival ticket and Ferry Travel packages are on sale now:
Wightlink – www.wightlink.co.uk/bestival / 0871 376 1000
Red Funnel – www.redfunnel.co.uk/bestival / 0844 844 9988
Hovertravel – www.hovertravel.co.uk/bestival2013 / 01983 811000
Big Green Coach travel & tickets packages are on sale now:
www.biggreencoach.co.uk/bestival
(Travel available from 13 locations across the UK)
www.bestival.net / facebook.com/bestivalfestival / Twitter: @bestival
Deciding what drink to take or purchase for a festival can be a difficult decision. Many festivals have strict rules on what kinds of drink you can and cannot take with you. If everyone was able to take as much alcohol with them with no restrictions - many festival simply wouldn’t survive.
Obviously, no one wants to start their festival experience off with drink being confiscated or having to dump numerous crates of beer enroute to the campsite because it is just too heavy to carry all the way.
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement and hype around attending a festival but realistically it’s hard not to. Partying or chilling out with friends and the best live music is definitely something to get excited about. Taking alcohol to a festival is merely a part of the whole experience, kicking back with a refreshing alcoholic beverage whilst watching your favourite band perform compliments the care-free atmosphere.
Nevertheless, it is important to be wise when it comes to drinking; festival goers must remember that instead of waking up in a warm comfy bed with a cup of tea within reach, a cold tent and painful head is all you will be left with.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, preparing correctly will ensure that your experience runs smoothly and is as enjoyable as possible.
According to the Glastonbury and the Go Outdoors website, the best drink at a festival is water. Many festival attendees under-estimate how much walking they will be doing to and from the arena, and with a lack of sleep it is important to stay hydrated to avoid getting exhausted. It is a good idea to take a couple of bottles of water with you to refill as buying water at festivals can be a hassle and sometimes over-priced.
Energy drinks are a good way to start the day off when you’re feeling a little groggy, so it’s a reasonable idea to keep a stash in your tent when you’re feeling tired and worn out.
Many festivals don’t allow glass to be taken into the event and will search your luggage on arrival. It’s a lot easier to use plastic containers anyway as they are not as heavy and there is no threat of them smashing. It’s always a bit of a risk taking spirits as you don’t want to peak to early in the day, so if you want to have a good recollection of the bands you’ve seen, it’s best keeping them till later.
If you haven’t tried a certain type of drink before, save it till you get home. If it doesn’t agree with you body it may ruin your weekend so it’s a good idea to stick to what you know and like. Warm cider and beer isn’t the most delightfully tasting drink, so bear in mind that you won’t be able to keep drinks chilled.
Beers and lagers can also make you need the toilet a lot, which is not ideal when you are stood amongst hundreds of people in the middle of a crowd. A lot of festivals will not allow drink into the arena either, so make sure you take enough money to buy drinks once in there. Many of the drink tents and festival bars have a wide range of drinks which are chilled and fresh, which is definitely worth checking out. Most of the tents operate on a ‘Challenge 25’, so make sure you don’t forget your identification. 
Taking water, drinking responsibly and knowing your limits, will ensure that you are set for a summer you won’t forget in a hurry.
What do you drink at festivals? Lets us know below.
If you want to know how much you’re drinking, why not check out our article How many units are you drinking at an event?
Article written by Abby Ward
Whether you’re hitting the festival scene or just planning a ‘staycation’ for your holiday this year, here’s peppermints pitch of the top five tents currently on the market.
For the camping pro: Force 10 Helium 200
This tent is one of the lightest two-person tents on the market, great for festival-goers travelling in by public transport. For the lovers of high-tech innovations this tent’s hybrid tunnel design makes for a surprisingly spacious and comfortable inside and a sturdy and weatherproof outside perfect for festivals and wild camping alike.
Price £250; stockist info: Cotswold Outdoor
For the camping family: Gelert Horizon Supreme 6
This spacious tent is great for families or groups of campers. Built-to-last, this tent has won several awards for the flexibility to tailor the insides however suits you. This tent has several levels of protection from the rain, so even if the Great British weather doesn’t fail to disappoint at least your tent won’t let you down.
Price: £449.99; stockist info: Gelert
For the Luxury camper: Vaude Badawi Long Tent
If you’re not a fan of getting down and dirty in the mud at a festival then bring a bit of luxury to bed-down on of an evening with this lavish Vaude Badawi design. Save sleeping under the stars exposed to the elements for Bear Grylls and the boy scouts, instead, be safe in the knowledge that your tent is fending off the rain with its 3,000mm water column. Comfortably sleeping six, it also has a spacious communal area but unfortunately the price-tag is every bit as luxurious as the tent!
Price: £750; Stockist info: Vaude
The novice camper: Vango AirBeam Infinity 600
Setting up a tent for the first time can be a daunting task, so here’s a six-person tent that takes away all the stress. The infinity 600 has a pitching time of just four minutes, the inflatable side’s means there’s no messing about with poles or pegs leaving more time to find out when your favourite band is playing.
Price: £650; Stockist info: Vango
For the festival-goer: EUROHIKE Tepee Meadow Floral 10 Person Tent
Stand out from the crowd at festivals in this stylish and practical floral tepee. Large enough for you and nine of your friends with standing room and takes just ten minutes to pitch. If that’s not enough the marvellous tepee design is sure to induce tent envy from all your camping neighbours.
Price: £300; stockist info: Millets
Happy camping!
This year Rob da Bank are celebrating 10 years of Bestival; 10 fields of wonderment and 20 stages filled with amazing music, insane sideshows and magical happenings – It already reaches an EPIC status. But year after year Bestival’s stage is blessed with some pretty awesome acts and artists, and this year is no different. With headline appearances from Elton John, Snoop Dogg and now Fatboy Slim, sets from M.I.A, Franz Ferdinand, The Flaming Lips, The Knife, Wu-Tang Clan, Richie Hawtin, Carl Cox, Annie Mac Presents, and so many more, Bestival seems to outshine other UK festivals.
“It was at Glastonbury 2003 where I closed the Sunday Best stage for Rob da Bank that I first saw the glint in his eye to create his own festival. 12 months later I was headlining Bestival and TEN years on, here I am again, throwing them the biggest birthday bash possible and sharing the main stage alongside Elton John and Snoop Dogg. It’s an absolute honour to return for this momentous occasion – staying creative and independent in these times. You’ve come a long way, baby!” – Fatboy Slim
It’s an exciting line-up already and there are still more acts to be announced, so this year is bound to be crazy as ever! If you want more information on festivals in London or ways to get into festivals for free (including Bestival) check out our previous articles.
For more of the Bestivals line-up click here!
Who are you most looking forward to see this year?
More live acts and DJs announced for Camp Bestival, the family friendly festi-holiday which takes place at Lulworth Castle, Dorset in August – Very special guest Take That’s Mark Owen joins the Saturday line-up, plus Valerie June, Cherishport, Red River Hogs, The Nextmen, Venum Sound, MC Wrec and many more added to the line up.
Camp Bestival announces even more amazing music….
VERY SPECIAL GUEST
MARK OWEN
LIVE ACTS:
VALERIE JUNE / CHERISHPORT / RED RIVER HOGS /
SKIMMITY HITCHERS / PHIL & TILLEY
DJS:
THE NEXTMEN / VENUM SOUND / MC WREC /
RUSS CUBAN / JSTAR / DICK KURTAINE / REV MILO /
ROWAN CHERNIN (CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SURF) /
IN LIGHT OF AQUARIUS / SHEPDOG
With summer holidays around the corner we can’t wait to get back to Lulworth Castle for a festi-holiday weekend of fun and frolics for all the family from August 1st– 4th. And the Camp Bestival crew are leaving no stone unturned to make sure this year’s Camp Bestival is another absolute corker. 
There really is something for everyone in this year’s line-up, so we’re very excited indeed to unveil a host of brilliant new acts that cover all bases, from huge popstars like our very special guest Mark Owen to brilliant local faves and beyond who will all be joining the likes of Labrinth, Richard Hawley, Levellers, Ash, The Proclaimers, Horrible Histories, Mr Tumble, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo, Alan Davies, Dick n Dom, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures The Brit School and many more!
The Camp Bestival Crew says: “There’s so much great music at Camp Bestival with something for everyone and we know how much fun a ladies night out is, so we’re very pleased to announce Mark Owen is coming to Lulworth Castle this year, especially for the girls!”
With his first solo album in eight years, ‘The Art of Doing Nothing’ due out in June, we very pleased to announce that Take That’s very own Mark Owen will be joining us at Lulworth Castle. With a hit-packed career spanning 20 years, Mark is one of the UKs biggest pop stars and along with his brilliant four-piece band he will be the soundtrack to a mega ladies night out on Saturday at Camp Bestival, playing not only his new and much loved solo material but also a tantalising selection of Take That anthems too!
Mark Owen Says: “Just about everybody I know with a family has told me how wonderful Camp Bestival is and said ‘you’ve got to go!’ I’ve got my Winnebago on order. See you there”.
But that’s not all, as we have plenty more top live music for your delectation, including Memphis chanteuse Valerie June who has been blowing away crowds with her mixture of folk, blues, gospel, soul, Appalachian and bluegrass music and her utterly magical vocals. If you haven’t caught her live yet, we guarantee this is one not to miss. There will also be live appearances from unique solo acoustic artist Cherishport, Dorset blues behemoth Red River Hogs, scrumpy & western phenomenon Skimmity Hitchers and New Forest duo Phil & Tilley.
Joining an already legendary line-up of amazing DJs that includes Grandmaster Flash, Sasha and Andrew Weatherall (in his A Love From Outer Space guide with Sean Johnston), we are very pleased to announce that deck-wrecking duo The Nextman are joining David Rodigan MBE’s Ram Jam line-up alongside Venum Sound and MC Wrec. Plus there will be high octane party flavours from the inimitable Russ Cuban, reggae and hip-hop mash-up madness from Jstar, divine turntable manoeuvres from Dick Kurtaine, eclectic treasures from Rev Milo Speedwagon, tubular sounds from Rowan Chernin (Chairman Of The Board Surf) , rockin roots and psych love from In Light Of Aquarius and certified dancefloor devastation from Camp Bestival favourite Shepdog.
With a whole world of discovery for kids, plus the best in music, arts and culture it’s no wonder that weekend tickets are flying out of the door, so you’re going to have to get a move on if you want to guarantee a whole weekend enjoying our fest-holiday treats. But, due to popular local demand from the brilliantly supportive people of Dorset, we are once again putting a very limited number of day tickets on sale on Friday May 17th.
Adult day tickets will cost £60 per day, Age 15-17 day tickets are £35 per day, Age 11-14 day tickets are £30 per day and Age 10 and under day tickets are free (but you must obtain a ticket) and will be available in person from Lulworth Castle and Lulworth Heritage centre, as well as through the usual Camp Bestival ticket agents.
If you can’t afford a ticket to this fun fuelled family festy in Dorset, why not volunteer? You can volunteer with Peppermint’s sister company Festival Volunteer, pick your shifts, get a free meal and 2 free drinks per shift and if you are a fan of Camp Bestival’s older sister Bestival – if you volunteer at Camp B then you get priority to pick your shifts for Bestival! Check out Festival Volunteer website or Facebook to find out some more information!
LINE UP SO FAR:
LIVE:
RICHARD HAWLEY / LEVELLERS / LABRINTH / VERY SPECIAL GUEST MARK OWEN / DJ FRESH LIVE / ASH / HEAVEN 17 / TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS / THE POLYPHONIC SPREE / GABRIELLE APLIN / KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS / I AM KLOOT / BILLY BRAGG / NIK KERSHAW / DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP / THE CUBAN BROTHERS / DJ YODA (LIVE AV SHOW ( FEAT THE TOOTSIE ROLLERS) / JOHN COOPER CLARKE / VALERIE JUNE / LISSIE / THE FARM / MUSICAL YOUTH / BEARDYMAN / SAM LEE & FRIENDS / THE CORRESPONDENTS / THE WURZELS / MAD PROFESSOR / SKINNY LISTER / CLEAN BANDIT / LONDON GRAMMAR / MIKILL PANE / THE 1975 / FLEETWOOD BAC / INTRODUCING RECREATE ‘DISCOVERY’ LIVE – A DAFT UNDERTAKING / HOWARD MARKS / LUCKY ELEPHANT / ADY SULEIMAN / LLOYD YATES / FOLK IDOL / MOLOTOV JUKEBOX / SEXY SUSHI / BEN WATERS / MOULETTES / FILTHY BOY / FAKE BUSH / HUDSON TAYLOR / ISAIAH DREADS / MR B THE GENTLEMAN RHYMER / LEWIS WATSON / JAWS / JAIPUR BRASS BAND / J-CATS / RED RIVER HOGS / CHERISHPORT / THE OHMZ / PUSH PEDAL / SKIMMITY HITCHERS / PHIL & TILLEY / SCOTT ANDERSON (BANDSTAND COMPERE)
DJs – ROB DA BANK AND FRIENDS: GRANDMASTER FLASH / SASHA / DAVID RODIGAN MBE PRESENTS RAM JAM FEAT. THE NEXTMEN, VENUM SOUND, MC WREC / A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE (ANDREW WEATHERALL AND SEAN JOHNSTON) / FABIO + GROOVERIDER / CRAIG CHARLES (DJ SET) / JON MORE (COLDCUT) / DICK N DOM RIP IT UP (DJ SET) / BARRY ASHWORTH / JOHN KENNEDY / RUSS CUBAN / SUNDAY BEST FORUM ALL STARS / BALEARIC BROTHERS / FEELING GLOOMY / TYTHE / COLEY FROM LUV*JAM / SOMBRERO SOUND SYSTEM / JSTAR / DICK KURTAINE / REV MILO SPEEDWAGON / ROWAN CHERNIN (CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SURF) / IN LIGHT OF AQUARIUS / SHEPDOG / MIX IT UP KRU / DJ DAPPER DAN
ENTERTAINMENT: HORRIBLE HISTORIES: BARMY BRITAIN (FESTIVAL PREMIERE AND EXCLUSIVE) / ALAN DAVIES / MR TUMBLE / ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO / DICK N DOM / LET IT BE / BRIT SCHOOL / BLACK EAGLES CIRCUS / ROYAL ALBERT HALL GINORMOUS PERCUSSION ORCHESTRA / SHLOMO’S BEAT BOX ADVENTURE FOR KIDS / CANDO2 / GLORIA AND THE EXPLORERS / LITTLE SUNSHINE, LITTLE RAINFALL / ALICE IN WONDERLAND PANTO / LONDON LUCUMI CHOIR / INSECT CIRCUS / MATTHEW BOURNE’S NEW ADVENTURES / TRINITY LABAN / CANDOCO / MECHANICAL MENAGERIE / GIDEON REELING / SHADOW PUPPETRY & STORYTELLING / CRAFT AND NATURE WORKSHOPS / YOUNG BRITISH FOODIES / TATE WORKSHOPS / BFI FILM CLUB / THE FOUR CORNERS TREASURE TRAIL / LOST & FOUND / MORRIS DANCING / JOUSTING / FREESTYLE SPORTS PARK / KIDS BIG ART VILLAGE / MAYPOLE DANCING / BIGTOPMANIA KIDS THEATRE AND CIRCUS
‘HOW TO’ INTERVIEWS: HOW TO FLY WITH EDDIE ‘THE EAGLE’ EDWARDS / HOW TO BE A PRESENTER WITH JO WHILEY / HOW TO HANDLE A RIOT WITH TREVOR PHILLIPS / HOW TO PLAY A BADDIE WITH CHARLIE BROOKS / HOW PHILOSOPHY CAN IMPROVE YOUR LIFE WITH JULES EVANS / HOW TO INTERVIEW WITH SIMON HATTENSTONE / HOW TO COLLECT SONGS WITH SAM LEE / HOW TO STARGAZE WITH MAREK KUKULA / HOW TO BE WILD WITH ROB AND LEO
SPOKEN WORD: SCROOBIUS PIP / KATE TEMPEST / POLARBEAR / MR GEE / JOSH IDEHEN / RAYMOND ANTROBUS / ADAM KAMMERLING / DEANNA RODGER / SIMON MOLE / PAUL CREE / JAMES MASSIAH / CHIMENE SULEYMAN / BRIDGET MINAMORE / ROUNDHOUSE POETRY COLLECTIVE / EARLY DOORS COLLECTIVE / ELEPHANT COLLECTIVE
WELL-READ: HOWARD MARKS IS: SCHOLOAR, SMUGGLER, PRISONER SCRIBE / BESTSELLING WOMEN’S HOUR WITH ADELE PARKS, LISA JEWELL, EMILY BARR, ANNA MAXTED / GRANTA BEST OF YOUNG BRITISH NOVELISTS WITH JOANNA KAVENNA, BEN MARKOVITS, ROSS RAISEN / KIDS BOOK SURGERY WITH JULIA ECCLESHARE
DEEP INSIGHTS FROM RSA SPEAKERS: EXPLORATION! WITH KEVIN FONG / REVOLUTION! WITH BIDISHA
THOUGHT-PROVOKING:
CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE WITH ANDREW SIMMS / WONDERLAND AND JUSTICE WITH AMBER MARKS /
BARELY IMAGINED BEINGS WITH CASPAR HENDERSON
FOODIES AND FASHION: CAMP BESTIVAL BAKE-OFF JUDGED BY LILY VANILLI / HOW TO OPEN A RESTAURANT WITH MARTIN MORALES / CONFESSIONS OF A FASHIONISTA WITH ANGELA CLARKE /
WOODLAND STORY DEN: GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE – GUY PARKER-REES / CALM DOWN BORIS! – SAM LLOYD / THE PIRATE CRUNCHER – JONNY DUDDLE / DARCY BURDOCK – LAURA DOCKRILL / GUY BASS / KATE O’HEARN / ERICA JANE WATERS / SIMON BARTRAM / CRAIG GREEN
QUIZZES: SAM WOLLASTON’S FAMOUS TV QUIZ / HAIL! HAIL! ROCK ‘N’ ROLL QUIZ WITH JOHN HARRIS / FILM QUIZ WITH CATHERINE SHOARD
WAKE UP WITH THE GUARDIAN: JOHN HARRIS, SIMON HATTENSTONE AND CATHERINE SHOARD
BOOKSIGNINGS: HORRIBLE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATOR MARTIN BROWN / ALL ADULT AND KIDS AUTHORS AT THE FESTIVAL
If your looking for a family friendly festival check out our article on top UK family festival or give our article on ways to get into a festival for free if you can’t quite afford a ticket this summer!
1. Zorb Ball or Zorbing. Imagine yourself wrapped up in a big ball of bubble wrap, rolling down a hill, this is practically what Zorbing is. Competitors are placed inside a larger inflatable ball and race with others downhill. Fantastical.
9.Indoor Sky-Diving. If you’ve always wondered what it feels like to skydive but have always been too scared to jump out of that plane, thousands of feet up in the air, then indoor skydiving is an experience you’ve got to try. Divers are placed in a wind tunnel which gives them the same feeling as you would if you were sky-diving. Be prepared to be blown away.
