A few questions about the festival

[muzzle]

Hi!

I'm visiting End Of The Road for the first time this year, and I'm really looking forward to it. It seems like such a great festival, with all the attributes festivals I've visited earlier has, but also a whole lot more.

Since my festival experiences limits itself to either scandinavian festivals like Roskilde and Hove, or larger city based festivals like Primavera Sound in Spain, I have a few questions regarding both facilites, transport and other practical issues.

First of all: I arrive at Gatwick airport friday morning. How do I get to the festival site both quick and cheap? I have read about the bus thing from Salisbury to the festival site, so I guess I just need to know how to get from Gatwick to Salisbury. Train seems like a good way to travel, but will I need to switch train somwhere? And how long will the travel take?

When I arrive, I assume it's the usual drill with ticket-to-wristband-exchange, before I head to the camping area. But how is the camping area organized? Will there be hard to find a good spot, or are there plenty of room? How tight do people live?

I also would like to know a few things about the food and the beer, and what the prices are like. Is it expensive ot eat and drink? Must all the food and beverages be pruchased at the site? Is it allowed to bring beer into the camping area? If this information is available on the web page, I'm sorry to bother you guys, but I couldn't find it.

Anyting else I need to know?

Less than two weeks left. This is going to be great!

[geofelgie]

For trains:

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/en/pj/jp?updateSearch=true

Looks like about two hours with one or two changes.

There is plenty of room in the campsite - because its only a 5000 capacity festival, so everything is much easier than a larger one.

Beer is brilliant, top quality, good choice and £3-£4 for a pint (564ml !!!).

Food is a tad expensive compared to normal life - it has to be for vendors to cover costs of cooking in a field - but it is very very good quality for a festival and there's a good selection for such a small festival. The pie van will have queues!

You can take beer and food to the campsite. In fact - apart from a tad overzealousnesss from security on the friday last year you've always been able to take a beer or two (plus any food) into the arena - campsite is right next to the arena so popping back at any time is easy.

BBqs and campfires are not allowed (Larmer Tree Gardens earns its money from garden visitors so can't really allow burnt patches all over the field) but small gas cookers are allowed.

geof

[geofelgie]

Oh and don't forget that glass is not allowed - so if you bring vodka or the like you have to transfer it into plastic bottles and get canned not bottled beers

Edited August 30, 2009 by geofelgie

[malene]

Me and a friend came over from Norway last year and are going this year as well.

EOTR is such a fantastic festival, and we had a great time last year. The only little problem we had coming from another country was that the cash machines at the festival didn't seem to accept foreign visa cards, so we had to take a taxi to a nearby village to get money for cider and pies. We bought some amazing strawberries on the way though, so wasn't really that big of a problem Still, I'm bringing some extra cash with me this year just to be on the safe side.

Can't believe it's next week!

[muzzle]

geof

[muzzle]

Me and a friend came over from Norway last year and are going this year as well.

EOTR is such a fantastic festival, and we had a great time last year. The only little problem we had coming from another country was that the cash machines at the festival didn't seem to accept foreign visa cards, so we had to take a taxi to a nearby village to get money for cider and pies. We bought some amazing strawberries on the way though, so wasn't really that big of a problem Still, I'm bringing some extra cash with me this year just to be on the safe side.

Can't believe it's next week!

[muzzle]

It seems like Gatwick -> Clapham Junction -> Salisbury is the easiest route. The allmighty internett tells me this will cost about £20. Does that seem reasonable? And should I order the tickets in advance, or will there be just as easy and cost the same if I buy my ticket at Gatwick?

And does any of you locals have a tip for an online weather service? I've checked a few pages, and it's looking good!

[sadwitch]

It seems like Gatwick -> Clapham Junction -> Salisbury is the easiest route. The allmighty internett tells me this will cost about £20. Does that seem reasonable? And should I order the tickets in advance, or will there be just as easy and cost the same if I buy my ticket at Gatwick?

And does any of you locals have a tip for an online weather service? I've checked a few pages, and it's looking good!

[muzzle]

£20 seems a good price. I would book though this might tie you in to particular times. Buying on the day might cost more but might not... it depends. Worth checking out.

[almal]

Yeah, but how and where do I check this out? Is there a general principle that booking tickets on internet is cheaper than buying at the station?

[muzzle]

booking in advance is generally cheaper

on the site you've used, check if it says "advance" or "standard" next to the cheapest price single/return

standard is what you'll have to pay on the day

[almal]

It says "off peak". The advance option is empty.

[sadwitch]

Yeah, but how and where do I check this out? Is there a general principle that booking tickets on internet is cheaper than buying at the station?

[geofelgie]

I gave you the National Rail website because it's the prices you'll pay on the day. Buying in advance can be cheaper but you've got to arrange ticket collection/postage etc - and you are fixed to times which with flights, shuttle buses etc, just seemed impractical.

[muzzle]

I gave you the National Rail website because it's the prices you'll pay on the day. Buying in advance can be cheaper but you've got to arrange ticket collection/postage etc - and you are fixed to times which with flights, shuttle buses etc, just seemed impractical.