Overview

Cornbury is only in its second year, yet it would seem the organisers have everything in place to make this a small family festival that will go from strength to strength. The festival was made even better by three days of gorgeous weather! The icing on the cake had to be the fantastic hot air balloons sailing off over our heads at the main stage. Seven lifted off on the Saturday and eight on the Sunday, an impressive display.

We arrived shortly before nightfall on the Friday and already the campsite under an avenue of trees was bustling with activity. It’s only a short walk from the car park to the campsite, and it rapidly becomes apparent that because of this many families have brought everything they could possibly need, from barbecues to picnic tables to swing ball for the kids.

The festival is sponsored by Waitrose, so there’s a small shop in the campsite next to wristband exchange, so we stock up on Italian plonk at a reasonable £5 a bottle and get sandwiches for tea rather than opting for an all day breakfast or a crepe.

We head briefly to the campsite late night bar to sample the real ale, there’s also cider or lager available and head back to sit by the tent under the stars and listen to the music playing from the bar. It’s a very peaceful beginning to a festival. The campsite is small and has a wonderful atmosphere dominated by an avenue of giant trees. And with so many day visitors filling the car parks in the daytime the campsite is much less busy with plenty of space around the tents.

Saturday arrives and the mist of the morning means an extended lie-in under cooler canvas before breakfast and a leisurely walk to the arena, which opens a bit late at 11.30am instead of the published time of 10am. But we don’t mind, lazing in the sun and listening to members of the Bonnie Tyler fan clubs enthusing how excited they are.

Some thought has gone into the layout of the site, with the market area in a central ring, the first thing you notice when you enter the arena, and the second stage to your right, with bales of hay for seating.

The stalls include much of the usual fare, bright designs and colourful trinkets to catch the eye, plus this year Cath Kidston has brought her flowery designs of festival stuff and a flowery caravan to add a vintage look to the area. By Sunday there’s a few of her tent designs she’s sold dotted about the site. Shmangle is also here with their reversible clothing/blanket and this year’s rainbow stripe design sure adds colour to the crowds.

Radiating from three points of the central ‘donut’ of stalls are three giant tepees containing a massage area, the 'Random Tent' (with a small stage too) and the kids area (producing drums, wicker animals, wings and much more over the weekend and handily beside the local primary school’s tent which not only provides, drinks, tea and cakes but also a lucky dip and some fun games like Lucky Dip for the kids. There’s also a fun fair at the top of the arena offering thrilling rides and adding more colour to the arena at night with it’s flashing lights and signs.

Beside the Random Tent tepee there’s enjoy poi who are not only selling their wares but have a large area in front of their stall, where kids and adults are learning or honing their poi skills. Poi appears to have become the top kids’ activity at festivals, there’s a child poi-ing in any direction you look.

As you head from markets towards the arena, there’s the usual suspects of catering stalls: the delicious La Grande Bouffe, The Mexican (mmmm nachos), Groovie Smooothie, Real Meat Sausage Company, Potato Wedges, Crepes and the Brakspear Brewery tent, selling real ales, ciders and lager for £3 a pint.

Flanking the arena on one side is the Waitrose Domes offering a bar, cold foods and some sofas to relax on in the heat and on the other side of the large stage is the members’ area.

As we get into the arena the first school band is opening up on the second stage, so we stop to listen to them, before wandering through the markets, chatting to other festival goers over a coffee and heading for the bar and its shade as the temperatures soar in the sunshine.

The main stage acts start at a civilised time 2pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday, especially handy on Sunday when the heat is incredible and the avenue of trees beside the campsite so cool and relaxing as an alternative to the heat and minimal shade of the arena.

All the acts were entertaining and many were a family friendly sing along to classic tunes, even the PA between bands played a few belting tunes to hum along to. Despite the staggered times on stages I regrettably didn’t get the opportunity to see many of the acts who played to a sizeable crowd on the second stage because of taking refuge from the heat.

Highlights personally had to be the fantastic Elvis Costello, Joe Cocker, Steve Harley, Amy Winehouse (after years of stupidly avoiding her), The Dualers and the incredible Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain. See music reviews section for more on the bands who played.

A well thought out festival, and I only have a few comments of minor gripes. Firstly the organisers should consider having a quiet field for family camping, or pointing out where the quietest parts of the campsite are as I overheard some complaining the late night bar was making too much noise, though personally I really liked having some late night ambient background music.

Secondly there weren’t enough toilets in the camping area, resulting in long queues, which are difficult for kids needing the loo and a dedicated small number of ‘just for kids’ loos would have been good. Although I should add that all the toilets I used all weekend were clean and stocked with toilet paper.

Thirdly on such a hot weekend having the drinking water off in the campsite was a blow, although to compensate it the showers, which still had water were a blessing. My only other slight gripe is the distance from the arena to the tents a long way to get warmer evening clothes, it’s a good job there’s such a long gap between acts. I do wonder how much the access would deteriorate in muddy conditions. But having said that the campsite location is wonderful.

As I say minor gripes, bands got to play nice long sets, although it would be nice for the line up to be even stronger next year but the sensible start times make it great for kids, giving them an opportunity to play at the campsite and make friends, before entering the arena. A neat little family festival which attracts a lovely crowd in a wonderful location. If it doesn’t clash with another festival next year, we’ll be back.

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