Great Festival
4
4
Date of visit: July 2017
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
Third time at this festival. The organisers have put a lot of thought into making it accessible and are very helpful through the booking process (free carer ticket available if you'd be unable to go without assistance). The viewing platform for the main stage is a reasonable size but the one by the other stage is tiny. Large screens either side of the main stage, so if you prefer to stay amongst the crowd you can still see the bands. They could do with screens on the other stage too, as the crowds all tend to stand up when the bands get going so you get a good view of the back of peoples heads! Previously driven to the festival and blue badge holders are provided with special parking area. However, this year we got dropped off by taxi and the 'parking police' were not overly helpful when the driver asked if he could drop us off closer as he had a wheelchair user in the car. Disabled port-a-cabin toilets were provided by each stage, although I am finding these increasingly hard to use. Also had the problem of everyone else using them as there was a distinct lack of 'normal' toilets available and continuously ridiculous queues all day.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The festival is held at Mote Park, Maidstone. Reasonably easy to get around, grassland with few slopes and walkways by carparks. It rained most of the day on Saturday but did not become too muddy.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
Specific area assigned for disabled festival goers with blue badge.
Accessible Toilets
Poor
Disabled port-a-cabins. Just managed to fit my motorised scooter inside and manouver to stand. Not a lot to hold onto and a very low toilet, which I would personally be unable to get up from .... thank god for imodium!
Staff
Good
Staff nice and friendly. Not really monitoring who was using the viewing platforms or disabled toilets - but not a real issue at this festival. Staff in charge of parking/drop off area not very helpful, directing everyone awaiting taxi pick-up to gravelled area (which, as I was transferring from scooter to wheelchair was not practical).
Additional Information
Would highly recommend this festival for anyone into rock, prog etc. Good selection of food and drink available. Very enjoyable weekend spent with lovely people.
