TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

I am going to NFFF this year for the first time. Who else from here is going to be there?  I know that a number of folk do tend to go.

Well, Wendy and I Steward there, Angela and Chris will turn up, Darran Kellett (sometimes with Debbie) and Pastie Boy also usually turn up. Issy is also Stewarding this year. Gill will be along. Many other familiar faces from TAW and Cropredy will be there.

Basically you won't go far without seeing a TalkAWhiler.

Have fun, we do, every year!

We will be there as per usual

I’ll be there too. Loverly little festival and great line up. Looking forward to meeting up with many TAW friends.

Consistently has one of the best line ups , and if you factor in the price (especially the early bird offer) by far the best value around . The following years line up is announced in full at the current years festival, so you know exactly what you are getting. The cost for us this year is exactly half of what we have paid for cropredy and Shrewsbury is even more expensive. Its also the friendliest festival by a country mile. The one problem it has is the waiting on the holding field on the Wednesday, they have to find a better way of getting people in more quickly. Apart from that it is outstanding , easily my favourite festival.

Agree with all of the above!

We have to do that because, despite saying in all publicity on every medium possible that the camping field opens at noon, people start queuing before 8am.

Some years ago, both locals and the Police got justifiably bent out of shape when the queue went back to the A36 and not only blocked Sherfield English Road (the lane where the entrance is) but the A36 IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

So we let you in, park you on the field out of the way until the camping fields are ready to open... at Noon.

Don't like it? Turn up at 13:30. There will still be plenty of room on the fields and you will not be put in the queuing field for 3 hours or so.

We endeavour to be very efficient in the way we deal with the queuing field, even extending the festival-internal-use-only WiFi so that our ticketing machines can (mostly) cope with sorting people out in advance.

Again: if you don't want to queue, don't arrive until we're OPEN.

Any queries on this, contact me.

Excellent explanation!

I was not complaining just saying I wish a better way could be found. I do understand the reasoning but it needs to be communicated. However, you are not strictly correct. I arrived way after opening time and was on the holding field for over two hours. There were some pretty miffed people and the stewards were getting some unnecessary abuse (not from me). People were wandering about trying to find out what was happenning , perhaps this could be explained on the way in.

You may have arrived way after opening time but you're still behind all the people who turn up early.

Thus your wait.

Ire should be reserved for the people causing the problem, not those of us dealing with it.

We explain this every year to anyone who asks.

That is totally different to what you said earlier. Are you trying to make me look wrong when I did exactly what was asked?

Sorry. That's the problem with typing away on a phone. It just gets abbreviated and less clear than it should be. Now I'm on a PC, so here we go.

My point was really that there's more and more people every year who turn up early, which is very frustrating for everyone. Not just the organisers, not just those who turn up early (for no real reason) but those who get stuck in the queue behind them.

The more people that turn up early, the longer it takes to clear the "waiting field". Which then means that the threshold time for driving straight in gets later and later. I advise our Stewards who aren't working that day to not turn up until after 16:00 (although we have an area to camp, as opposed to the general punters).

I would suggest that we hand out explanatory leaflets to everyone that turns up early but a) that's a waste of trees; b) would give the festival organisation a load MORE litter to clean up than we already have.

Anyone claiming not to know why, having turned up before we're open, they're stuck in a field has some of my sympathy. The people THEY then delay have a lot more of my sympathy.

Anyone abusing Stewards has no sympathy at all from me. NFFF is a bloody great festival with so many people working so hard to make it so great. Such people need to get a grip.

I will shut up now.

Thank you for your apology . I was very worried that the positive comments earlier in the thread would be devalued.
I will be arriving at 1 PM , please ensure the VIP lane will be clear.  ;)

Tee hee

Seriously thinking of maybe being there this year… fingers crossed.

I believe ticket prices rise very shortly. Take a look at the website.

Yippee booked and paid for today…

No idea where the caravan will be parked and hoping I can get round on my rollator as I won’t have my mobility scooter…. BUT WE WILL BE THERE… at last!!!

See lots of you in four weeks. 🩷🩷🩷

Glad to know I won't be the only newbie there!

Any tips for us first-timers? Things that are different from Cropredy which we should be aware of?

Yes tips for us newbies please,

Everything is easy! No need to rush to get a camping spot or a good place in the arena. Bar is great , plenty of toilets , first aid staff are the best, as I have found out. Decent late shop nearby , but dont go back the way you drive in, go through the woods, its about a quarter of the distance. Buy a programme ,they're excellent and you will need the code inside for the early bird offer. It also contains a card with all the timings and details of next years line up on the other side.

The Go Outdoors chairs are no longer 2 for £15. They are now £10 each , buy the second half price. PEDANT ALERT!

Thank you for this.

When is the New Forest Folk Festival?
The festival runs from the first Wednesday to Sunday in July every year. The 2026 dates are 1st – 5th July.

Where & When Should I Arrive?

When you arrive, please come to Gate 1 (Postcode for your SatNav is S051 6EF).  
Gate 2 is for artists & traders only.

If you have a weekend ticket. please arrive AFTER 13:30 on Wednesday. The camping fields are not open until 12 Noon. If you arrive earlier, you will be asked to queue in a field until the camping areas open. It can be a very boring wait, as we ask that you remain with your vehicle at all times. Nevertheless, people do arrive early, queue in the field and delay entry of those arriving "on time". Arriving after 13:30 gives the queue a chance to reduce, thus reducing your wait.

If you have a day ticket, on the day your ticket is valid, park in the day car park, to which you will be directed.

Food & Drink

The Arena and Bar will open at 18:00 on Wednesday for our traditional meet and greet including Morris Dancers, a sing-around and barbecue finishing at 23:30.  The breakfast bar by the arena entrance is open daily from Thursday to Monday between 08:00 - 11:00. The bar is open from 11:00 to 23:30 Thursday to Saturday.

Dogs

Well behaved dogs are welcome, but all dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and the owner(s) must be aware of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and adhere to it at all times. Please can we also ask that you use doggy bags to clean up after your dog. There are plenty of bins around the site.

Bringing alcohol

Alcohol for personal consumption may be brought onto the campsite but not into the Arena due to licensing regulations.

The police conditions on our licensing application includes “the supply of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises”. This condition allows alcohol bought within the license area (arena) to be taken outside the arena but within the parameters of the farm such as the woodland fringe and camping areas.

To be clear we can allow alcohol to be taken out of the arena (licensed area) but security will stop alcohol leaving the site (farm). We will continue to stop alcohol from being brought into the licensed area (arena) from anywhere on the farm such as the woodland fringe and the campsites. If you leave the arena with alcohol, please drink up before you re-enter the arena as it will be taken from you.

There is a Challenge 25 policy operating at the bar so if you’re lucky enough to look under 25 please bring your passport, photo card driving licence or ‘PASS’ ID with you.

It should be noted that some very strong cider is sold at the bar. Beware!


Bringing glass into the arena

Glass is not allowed in the arena but we do provide reusable New Forest Folk Festival branded non-glass "glasses" at a £1 each. This is a non-refundable charge but the containers can be used multiple times.


Supplies

If you want to pick up some supplies, the Londis store at Landford Service Station SP5 2BB on the A36 at the end of Sherfield English Road (the lane from the A36 to Gate 1) has quite a good choice of some basic amenities and is easily walkable. They supply a limited selection of CampingGaz bottles too. It opens 06:30-22:00 daily.

There is also a Nisa Local on Salisbury Road in West Wellow SO51 6BU 2 miles down the A36. It opens 06:00-22:00 daily. When leaving the Nisa car park, turn left and use the roundabout immediately to head back toward the festival as turning right can be a time-consuming nightmare.

Medical Information

In the event of a medical emergency, always contact the First Aiders onsite who will assist and co-ordinate with Emergency Services if required.

The nearest Chemist is the pharmacyDIRECT Wellow Practice, Lower Common Rd, West Wellow, SO51 6BT. 01590 682225  It is open 09:00-17:30 Mon-Fri and 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays, closed on Sundays. It’s a 1.7 mile, 3 minute, drive from the festival.

On Saturday afternoons and Sundays, Boots Pharmacy at 1 The Hundred, Romsey SO51 8GB is open 10:00 to 15:00. (Mon-Fri 08:30-17:30, Sat 08:30-17:00) 01794 513143

If you have queries once you arrive, please ask any Steward or go to the Cabin at the entrance to the Festival field.

The official full Q&A can be found here (https://www.newforestfolkfestival.co.uk/questions.html).

Thanks Andy!

Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday. We shall not be arriving early!

Us too x

Have fun folks, it sounds so great…wish we weren’t so far away!

Has anyone else been sent any form of ticket to prove that you’ve paid when arriving?

I was told something would be sent to me on the 17th… today.  Nothing as yet

Ours came through about an hour ago but went to my spam folder, Time to start getting excited.

Thank you, I will look in spam then.

Just arrived… in email not spam… happy Jen now.

Now thinking of arriving Thursday morning so I can see the England game on Weds night. Its a bit of a sentimental decision, given that we lived in DRC (while it was still Zaire) for a year, and our daughter was born there.

Looking forward to seeing all the TAW folk. We're there from tomorrow for setup, so look for the exhausted people when you arrive.

Just hoping it’ll be a lot cooler there!

Saturday is always warm.

I'm going to say this one more time: the camping fields open at Noon on Wednesday.

Arrive early and you will be put in a field to wait until Noon.

Arrived at 12:00 and finally off the holding field at 14:50.
Never mind, it is what it is.
Let the fun begin!

Really enjoyed the whole weekend.  Everyone friendly and looking out for each other.

Especially liked Steve Knightley's new band, the Laurel Canyon band and Reg Meuross' Woody Guthrie set.

I'd like to see all of those again, and for more than an hour.

Yeah, I loved it too. My first visit, and hope to return again.  Somehow Steve Knightley's new stuff didn't quite hit the spot with me, but loved most of it, and it was a good idea to bring True Foxes on to sing for a few songs too.  I really enjoyed a number of the acts, including Lucy Kitchen, The Courtiers, Harbottle & Jonas, Gerry Colvin, Ranagri (who I 'got' this time, after not being very impressed at Cropredy), the Laurel Canyon Project, Skerryvore, Fisherman's Friends and Seth Lakeman. There was hardly a weak act - though Charlie Dore & Julian Littman were a bit of a disappointment.

This is the best festival going by a mile and I really enjoyed it, but we have let next years early bird offer lapse because I just cant cope physically (or mentally) with the holding field. Five hours driving , three hours stuck in a blazing hot field, and then a new , unfamiliar and heavy awning to erect was just too much. Sad but I had to see the paramedics as well, just not possible any more. I hope they can find a way around it.

Agree with Nick, the holding field, although a neccesity to keep the queue off the main road, needs to be addressed as the 2-3 hour wait is spoiling what is essentially one of the finest festivals in the land. The problem (as I see it) is the pitching up, there seems no urgency, yes its all very polite and nice but when you have that number of vans and tents to get in it needs to be far more millitary, one after the other and kept moving. Between the holding field and actually getting pitched we were stopped 3 times to ask if we were camping with anyone else or with a group, most festivals tell you to meet up off site and arrive in convoy, at one stop the first question to us was simply "campervan", I was very tempted to reply "NO its a Bo-ing 747" but I bit my lip, then the van in front was sent the wrong way and had to be re-directed, at that point even the steward was starting to admit defeat, it cant be good for their morale listening to the moans. Once on the field we were stopped a final time to ask if we were wanting to camp with anyone else or with a group, by which time I'd had enough and put my foot down, once in the field we picked our own pitch (as did all the people around us) as there wasn't a steward in sight. fortunately safe gaps were left between but it could have gone horribly wrong, some even took enough space for 2 vans. Once the camping fields open there should be a non stop stream of vans with a Sargeant Major directing, Hope next year is better for those attending, we however are having a year off as the lineup didn't really do it for us, good selection of artistes, but not enough to our taste for the 500 mile round trip, hopefully back in 2028, with picnic lunch and lots of cold drinks in the fridge just in case.

Just so there's no doubt: the festival Q&A and the information leaflet about it and the email sent out all say that the gates open at 9:00am but the camping fields don't open until noon. Some people do conflate the two, but they are different. Currently the license for the festival camping runs from noon on Wednesday to noon on Monday, so unless that license is changed, queueing will continue for people arriving before noon and those after noon will be queueing behind the early arrivals. The Police won't let us send early arrivals around the block, fyi. I agree that the holding field is not the right solution.


A number of factors exacerbated the situation on Wednesday morning, including a fatal traffic accident on the A36 first delaying, then releasing, a high number of festivalgoers, causing us to have a massive bump in numbers at one point.

But that's no excuse. We recognise that the holding field is a temporary measure whose time has hopefully come to an end. We're working to get a better system in place for next year.

My apologies for the inconvenience caused. We're working on it.

Begs the question, why open at 9.00. I think it happens at most festivals if you say 7.00 people arrive at 6.00 to be at the front of the queue for a better pitch but with new forest non of the pitches are better or worse and non are too far away from the arena, why not open at 12.00 knowing people will get there at 11.00. I'm sure there has been much discussion and learning over the years and of course there will be the unexpected on the day problems to deal with but it just seems that  by telling people they can arrive at 9.00 it is compounding the problem.

I agree.