Located in the beautiful Hampshire countryside, Blissfields is an intimate and fun-filled festival which takes place on the 4th and the 5th of July this year. Here are my top five reasons for going to Blissfields Festival 2014.
5. The loos!
The UK’s ONLY double decker bus with hot tubs!
This is a bit of a weird one, but it’s still worth mentioning if you’re considering buying a ticket to the festival! A Posh Wash Pass, which costs £10, will give you access to a set of ‘posh’ loos and showers for the duration of the weekend. If the thought of a festival portaloo fills you with dread, the Posh Wash pass will be the best £10 you will spend all weekend! As well as the Posh Wash facilities, this year Blissfields are introducing the Field of Bliss spa, where you can relax in a hot tub… ON a double decker bus! The festival’s organisers say: ‘with red cedar wood hot tubs, saunas, massages, showers, freshly laundered hammam towels and a relaxation area, the spa will ensure you leave feeling fully refreshed, invigorated and ready to step back into the wild’. It’s predicted that the spa will be very popular, so festival goers are advised to book hot tubs in advance.
4. The food and drink
You’re not going to be ripped off for a soggy burger at Blissfields. Last year, the festival hosted a range of different food stalls including woodfired pizza, burritos, ice cream, pancakes, Indian foods, an SOS breakfast van serving ‘proper’ breakfast muffins (which was very popular with revellers after a night in the Hidden Hedge!) and a stall selling everything from fresh fruit smoothies to toasties and wraps with every filling you could imagine. My personal highlight was the lemonade stand and its incredibly friendly owner, who sold freshly squeezed lemonade – it was the perfect refreshment over the scorching weekend. There was a corner shop style pop up shop which was useful for stocking up on essentials. I’d recommend trying the food on offer rather than trying to cook your own every day. With so much to do, it’s likely that you will be too tired to want to do so and the food available was of a high standard and offered at very reasonable prices. It’s been confirmed that the popular Blissfields Hobgoblin Beer festival will return for 2014 serving ten beverages from around the country including two Hampshire cask ciders.
3. The theme
Last year’s theme was ‘Hollywood’, and many festival goers donned their best red carpet inspired costumes to hit the fields – Marilyn Monroe and James Bond lookalikes could be found in the crowds watching headliners Bastille! Although fancy dress isn’t compulsory, festival goers are encouraged to get involved. It’s fun to see how others have interpreted the theme each year. This year’s theme is ‘Walk on the Wild Side’ and the festival’s organisers are aiming for a Guinness World Record for the ‘largest gathering of people wearing animal prints’. If you’d like to take part, you’ll need to register on the website and, if the attempt is successful, you’ll be eligible for an official Certificate of Participation!
2. The location
Hidden Hedge at Blissfields 2013
Blissfields Festival takes place in the heart of the Hampshire countryside at Vicarage Farm near Winchester. The festival is great for those who haven’t been to a festival before, as the site is small compared to festivals like Reading or Glastonbury. However, the size of the site definitely works in its favour! All the areas of the site are within a short walking distance; it takes less than ten minutes to walk from one side of the camp to the other. The distance from the campsite to the entertainment is convenient, meaning you don’t have very far to walk when you are heading back from the night’s entertainment ready to sleep! In addition to a range of music stages, Blissfields is home to the popular Hidden Hedge, where bands and DJs perform in the woodland area of the farm. There’s also the Blisscotheque, where you can dance inside a vintage double decker bus! During the daytime, festival goers can participate in a range of craft activities. Last year, stalls included a jewellery making stall and metalwork stall.
Chloe Howl will be performing at this year’s festival.
1. The music
In recent years, Blissfields Festival has hosted acts such as Mumford and Sons, Jake Bugg, Laura Marling, Ben Howard, Sam Smith and Bastille to name but a few. This year’s festival will see performances from rising star Chloe Howl, Luke Sital Singh and Nick Mulvey. The first lineup announcement was made a few weeks ago, with the full line up to come in the next few weeks. Blissfields promises acts to suit a range of musical tastes and there’s sure to be something to suit everyone. It’s definitely worth buying a Thursday pass too, where you can watch talented unsigned bands perform throughout the evening (and secure the best camping spot in the daytime!).
Visit the website for more information and to purchase tickets. Photos courtesy of Blissfields’ Website.
