- What: A self-described 3-day "boutique" music festival on the Isle of Wight
- When: Friday - Sunday, first weekend in September
- Where: Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight
- Admission: Various prices with camping included, tickets from booking agents listed on the website
- Website
What's a Boutique Music Festival?
Bestival is what you might call small and perfectly formed. Just like some of the other big time UK festivals, it features top commercial and indie acts, past and present - in 2008, headliners scheduled included Amy Winehouse (fingers crossed), My Bloody Valentine, The Cuban Brothers, Gary Numan and The Human League. It usually has a fancy dress theme as well, with extra goodies for your costume available in the Dressing Up Field.But Bestival is a bit more upmarket. First off, it's "curated" rather than organized by Sunday Best DJ Rob da Bank. And it's held in a lovely country park which almost never turns into a muddy field.
There are ready pitched tends, a Tipi Field, caravan camping and free or "pay per poo" Comfy Crappers - sorry that's their brand name.
But for the more well heeled, there's the boutique campsite where you have use of exclusive toilet and shower facilities, a breakfast café and 24-hour security. Boutique camping accommmodations range from large tents lined with velvet and furnished with beds, bed linens and electric power, through tipis, yurts, solar pods, beach huts and ship's cabins.
They even have bus beds - converted double-decker buses with proper beds, tea and coffee bar, hospitality area and chiller cabinet. Or you can rent an American Frontier Wagon for the weekend.
Bestival tends to attract a slightly older crowd than some of the other summer festivals (think late 20s and to 40s as the average) as well as families.
