Hello from us all at Merton Farm. Not long to go til this years festival - and if you’re anywhere near as excited as we are then you’re ready to pop as we zoom towards the weekend of Kent’s bestest Music Festival.. We’ve put this guide together to help you enjoy the highs and avoid the lows of lounging, farm style...
Below is some very important information that we recommend you ALL read before setting off for this year’s festival...
THE SITE
Merton Farm is a mixed arable farm between the A2 and the B2068. The site enjoys fantastic drainage and rarely stays muddy for long. The farm is quite hilly in parts but the main arena with the majority of the entertainment is fairly flat. If you are carrying an injury or have a disability moving around the site can be quite tiring but hopefully well worth it!
1. Gates open at 6pm on Thursday 7th July 2011. There is no entertainment Thursday evening, and only one bar and basic facilities / amenities open. The gate closes at 11pm.
2. Festival opens officially at 9am on Friday 8thJuly. Please do not arrive before 9am as you will be unable to access the site.
3. The festival gate is open from 9am to 9pm each day for entrance to the festival.
4. The site closes officially at midday on Monday.
ALCOHOL ON SITE
Day Ticket Holders shall NOT be allowed to bring any alcohol on to the site
Persons over the age of 18 who hold weekend tickets for the Event shall be permitted to bring onto the Site a maximum of 3 litres of wine or 24 cans (of a maximum can size of 440ml) of beer, lager or cider but no spirits and all alcoholic beverages must be contained either wine boxes, cans or plastic containers and not in glass bottles.
All wristbands are issued on arrival at the site box office. They are non-replacable. The campsite is only accessible to Weekend Wristband holders. The family campsite is only accessible to Weekend Wristband holders with an additional Family Wristband, likewise for Caravan/Campervan Campers. Day Wristband holders cannot access any of the campsites and must leave the festival site at 12am when the music finishes.
GETTING THERE - USING GREEN TRAVEL
Travel details to follow soon!
There will hopefully also be the train ticket partnership info to add in here
GETTING THERE - BY CAR
details to follow soon!
1. Don’t forget your ticket and ID.
2. Only bring what you can afford to lose. Tents aren’t secure.
3. Travel light. Everything you need will be available on site from our campsite shops, but always have wet wipes and a torch.
4. Bring all weather clothing – ponchos, walking boots, lots of dry socks and a high factor suncream.
5. Lounge on the Farm has the best festival food around and its cheap too so you can always leave the food and cooking equipment at home. If you do want to cater for yourselves, controlled heat sources such as Camping Gas stoves are fine. BBQs are not.
6. Bring 1 ATM card for cash-back at the bars. Make a note of the numbers to make cancellation easier. Keep cash to a minimum. Also make a note of your phones IMEI number. Press *#06# on your phone and write it down. This will make cancellation easier if necessary.
7. Only bring the keys that you absolutely need.
8. Bring your vital medications.
GETTING IN
1. Give your friends their tickets in advance. There is no point trying to meet outside the festival to do this.
2. Be prepared to show your ticket to bus stewards and car park stewards but DO NOT give your ticket to anyone until you reach the wristbanding box offices on Merton Farm.
3. Buy a programme at the gate so you’re ahead of the game when you get on site.
MAKING CAMP
1. There are quiet camp areas if you prefer. Follow the signs or ask a steward.
2. There are campsite hubs in all fields. At these points you can ask for help, advice or any welfare matters. Stewards here are trained and are there to help you.
3. Note where you have camped in relation to the fixed fire point number or put a flag on your tent. Tents are easy to lose in a sea of tents.
4. Build a community and look out for each-other but....
5. Try not to build giant circles of tents that take up too much room.
6. Don’t build campfires on site.
7. Use UV pens to postcode your property. Spread your belongings out and keep them to a minimum.
8. Candles are dangerous and pointless. Use a torch.
9. If you discover a fire raise the alarm immediately but do not put yourself at risk by tackling it.
10. Respect your neighbours and watch your volume as it gets later. Do not use personal sound systems.
GETTING AROUND
1. Watch out for congestion at gates, especially The Crossroads. If it looks too busy it probably is so take a seat and chill out for a bit.
2. Keep in touch with your friends on your mobile. You can also leave messages at the campsite hubs.
3. Cash back is available at all the bars except The Farmhouse.
4. Lost children will be taken in the first instance to First Aid.
5. At the end of each day visitors with day tickets will be directed to exit by the main stage to shuttle buses or taxi ranks. Please leave the site as quietly as possible and if you choose to walk home or back to Canterbury please respect our neighbours.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
1. Disabled parking is on the Lounge On The Farm Festival Site, accessible via Main Entrance.
2. Carers go free with valid Blue Badge or Carers UK membership.
3. Carer tickets must be collected from either The Farmhouse on Dover Street Canterbury in advance or from the main Box Office on your arrival at Merton Farm.
4. Disabled facilities are available across the site.
5. Please be warned that although the site is fairly flat it is a working farm and the terrain can be difficult to move around.
CHILDREN
1. There are 3 types of under 18 tickets. Tots which are 0-5 years, Children which are 6 – 12 years and Youths which are 13 – 17 years. All of these tickets must be accompanied by a responsible adult or legal guardian as laid out in our Terms and Conditions.
2. Family ticket holders have 2 fields. Families must camp together. Children wearing Family, child or youth wristbands will not be allowed to camp in the main campsite unaccompanied.
3. Children are provided with blank white wristbands. Please write an emergency mobile number on this wrist band. DO NOT WRITE THE CHILDS NAME.
