55 replies to this topic

[arpner]

Having just returned from my 5th V festival this year in Staffs I was appalled at how this once pretty good festival has turned into just one huge money grabbing exercise. It seems that all the promoters wish to do is extract every last piece of cash from you witout any real regard to the fact that all we want to do is enjoy the music.

examples.....

What was with the excessive heavy handed searching actually going into the arena ? We'd already been searched for glass bottles etc coming into the site ? They were taking bottles of water and coke that my and my mates had literally just bought from the shop outside off us as we went in, why do they have to do this ? Just plain money grabbing as obviously we have to re-buy the things when we get in. Now I can understand them stopping you with a 6-pack but water? ridiculous.....

Having bought a £5 bacon butty from one of the ridiculously overpriced stalls in one of the campsites I was amazed and shocked to overhear what I think was the owner of the stall complaining to another bloke that one of his staff had been putting 3 slices of bacon into the sarnies and not 2 like he was told....excuse me mate I've just paid a bloody fiver for this...I nearly had a go I tell you....
Theres seriously too many avearage, overpriced food stalls about, churning out garbage youd prob think twice about feeding to your dog....inside the arena theres some good ones but apart from that...well...

It was by far the most overcrowded Id ever seen it too...obviously selling more and more tickets each year and not increasing the capacity of the site in anyway....it took ages to get in between stages just through the sheer volume of people... I wonder if it will increase next year too ?

Plus it seems to be getting more and more full of chavs and idiots intent on being knobheads for the weekend, blind drunk and mashed making a nusiance of themselves inside the arena and in the campsite....

Is it just me on the points above ? All I can say is thank god for The Killers.....they were fantastic sunday evening and really made the weekend.....

Unless the line up is downright amazing next year I'm off to Glastonbury again....even if it is 3 times as far from Manchester.......

[MilkyJoe]

arpner, on Aug 24 2009, 11:44 PM, said:

Having just returned from my 5th V festival this year in Staffs I was appalled at how this once pretty good festival has turned into just one huge money grabbing exercise.

See you next year then!

[MilkyJoe]

arpner, on Aug 24 2009, 11:44 PM, said:

What was with the excessive heavy handed searching actually going into the arena ? We'd already been searched for glass bottles etc coming into the site ? They were taking bottles of water and coke that my and my mates had literally just bought from the shop outside off us as we went in, why do they have to do this ? Just plain money grabbing as obviously we have to re-buy the things when we get in. Now I can understand them stopping you with a 6-pack but water? ridiculous.....

And another thing.....

We were in and out a few times and can honestly say that we didn't get stopped or searched going into the arena, in fact I didn't see many people being stopped at all. You must look a dodgy sort!!

[arpner]

MilkyJoe, on Aug 24 2009, 11:50 PM, said:

And another thing.....

We were in and out a few times and can honestly say that we didn't get stopped or searched going into the arena, in fact I didn't see many people being stopped at all. You must look a dodgy sort!!

I just look normal..maybe that's the problem...lol.... but seriously you didnt see the huge signs on the entrance to the arena stating "no plastic / glass bottles etc..." I remember waiting for abour 20mins on the sun aft trying to get in whilst they patted everyone down, went through bags etc etc...

I realise these things are here to generate a profit otherwise we wouldnt have a V festival but it could just be made so much better and friendlier if they just stopped thinking about cash cash cash for one minute and thought "hmm maybe this will be better for the customers..."

I notice your from Kendal.....small world...I was born there....lol..

[cupcakebarb]

We got bags searched on way in but add nowt in them anyway, not brave enough. But agree that this year was way way more people there it was manic! The Sat I couldnt belive how many were there, dont know if they have increased the numbers being addmitted but seemed more than last year. Opps forgot there is a reccesion!!!

[veronique]

Woops... duplicate

Edited by veronique, 24 August 2009 - 11:15 PM.

[veronique]

MilkyJoe, on Aug 24 2009, 11:50 PM, said:

And another thing.....

We were in and out a few times and can honestly say that we didn't get stopped or searched going into the arena, in fact I didn't see many people being stopped at all. You must look a dodgy sort!!

Maybe you were just lucky. We went in to the arena on Saturday with a rucksack and didnt get searched. Went in on Sunday twice and got searched each time and also seen numerous others being searched. I had a 1ltr water bottle particially filled with ribena so I could mix it with water when in the arena and had to throw it away because the jobs worth steward insisted it must be thrown away because they didnt know what was in it. I opened it took a good sniff and offered them to confirm it was only cordial but said werent bothered what it was, just bin it. Bunch of idiots. Why werent they concentrating on those with drugs??? Didnt bother me particularly, but time better spent? No... Because by making us throw our drinks away they could make more money!

[bekimo]

I wasnt searched at all. I did get patted on the arse once. But that was it. My cousin got possitively abused the first time she went in on Friday night, she was wearing a tutu and combat short-shorts, and this woman pulled her tutu up and was frisking her all the way around her shorts. I laughed my arse off. Her shorts were like skin tight. No way she could have anything in them!!! And what can you get under a tutu?! Blatent groping if u ask me!!

[heavenly271]

arpner, on Aug 24 2009, 11:44 PM, said:

Having just returned from my 5th V festival this year in Staffs I was appalled at how this once pretty good festival has turned into just one huge money grabbing exercise. It seems that all the promoters wish to do is extract every last piece of cash from you witout any real regard to the fact that all we want to do is enjoy the music.

examples.....

What was with the excessive heavy handed searching actually going into the arena ? We'd already been searched for glass bottles etc coming into the site ? They were taking bottles of water and coke that my and my mates had literally just bought from the shop outside off us as we went in, why do they have to do this ? Just plain money grabbing as obviously we have to re-buy the things when we get in. Now I can understand them stopping you with a 6-pack but water? ridiculous.....

Having bought a £5 bacon butty from one of the ridiculously overpriced stalls in one of the campsites I was amazed and shocked to overhear what I think was the owner of the stall complaining to another bloke that one of his staff had been putting 3 slices of bacon into the sarnies and not 2 like he was told....excuse me mate I've just paid a bloody fiver for this...I nearly had a go I tell you....
Theres seriously too many avearage, overpriced food stalls about, churning out garbage youd prob think twice about feeding to your dog....inside the arena theres some good ones but apart from that...well...

It was by far the most overcrowded Id ever seen it too...obviously selling more and more tickets each year and not increasing the capacity of the site in anyway....it took ages to get in between stages just through the sheer volume of people... I wonder if it will increase next year too ?

Plus it seems to be getting more and more full of chavs and idiots intent on being knobheads for the weekend, blind drunk and mashed making a nusiance of themselves inside the arena and in the campsite....

Is it just me on the points above ? All I can say is thank god for The Killers.....they were fantastic sunday evening and really made the weekend.....

Unless the line up is downright amazing next year I'm off to Glastonbury again....even if it is 3 times as far from Manchester.......

hmmm to be honest I think you were generally unlucky, I managed to get soft drinks into the arena no problem, also remember you should have taken empty bottles into the arena as there was plenty of FREE water taps. Yes they were searching a lot this year but it generally as in just about every year depends who you get on the way in, sometimes we had our bag interrogated other times they werent interested. We wrapped our camel pack inside a jumper and had no probs at all.

Also with reference to the food prices I actually feel really sorry for the food stall holders, we found out that it costs £7k for the pitch for the weekend which is a hell of a lot of money considering the amount of hours the arena is actually open, then they have to add staff and food costs on top and in this current recession I think the food was reasonable. If you think the food is too costly then its not the stall holders fault its V's for charging so much to pitch.

I noticed the site had actually expanded this year, not by much but the V stage was definatley further back than normal. Losing a tent wont have helped matters either and with it sunny and everyone sitting and lying about that made it seem more crowded, everyone was cowering in tents the previous years!

I think on the saturday yeah there was a lot of idiots and so forth around but it was the day of oasis and also the streets and the enemy tend to attract the same kind of crowd then on the sunday everything was a lot more relaxed, friendly and chilled out. We camped in orange camp efests which is chiled and friendly so we never had any problems in the campsites but we had heard of a lot of trouble in red??? I think people were drinking more this year god knows I was but it was sunny! Everyone drinks more when its sunny lol

Sorry you had a rough time, I had an awesome weekend!!

[cthulu]

I ended up in hospital on Sunday and missed everything beyond Starsailor. I had abdominal pain and bleeding probably causd by the bending down and having to sit on the floor for the weekend as the monkeys on the arena door would not allow me to take a camping chair, stool or even an inflatable chair to sit on. I explained I was 34 weeks pregnant to numerous people (you can't miss it..I'm the size of a baby elephant) I asked supervisors, staff and at the medical centre. I was told "If we let you take something in, we will have to let everyone else"

No -one from V replied to my various emails asking if I would be able to take a camping chair into the arena, but to be honest, with a valid reason, I honestly thought no-one would be so callous as to say no to an inflatable chair. WHY WHY WHY???

It spoilt not only my weekend but my partners, not to mention frightened the life out of both of us.

There were definatlely LESS toilets than last year. I can't understand why. Although, I did have the foresight of bringing a portable toilet! - not that it went into the arena

I don't think anyone from V will listen to me..becuase they haven't so far... but how do I complain?

[davros666]

arpner, on Aug 24 2009, 11:44 PM, said:

Having just returned from my 5th V festival this year in Staffs I was appalled at how this once pretty good festival has turned into just one huge money grabbing exercise. It seems that all the promoters wish to do is extract every last piece of cash from you witout any real regard to the fact that all we want to do is enjoy the music.

examples.....

What was with the excessive heavy handed searching actually going into the arena ? We'd already been searched for glass bottles etc coming into the site ? They were taking bottles of water and coke that my and my mates had literally just bought from the shop outside off us as we went in, why do they have to do this ? Just plain money grabbing as obviously we have to re-buy the things when we get in. Now I can understand them stopping you with a 6-pack but water? ridiculous.....

Having bought a £5 bacon butty from one of the ridiculously overpriced stalls in one of the campsites I was amazed and shocked to overhear what I think was the owner of the stall complaining to another bloke that one of his staff had been putting 3 slices of bacon into the sarnies and not 2 like he was told....excuse me mate I've just paid a bloody fiver for this...I nearly had a go I tell you....
Theres seriously too many avearage, overpriced food stalls about, churning out garbage youd prob think twice about feeding to your dog....inside the arena theres some good ones but apart from that...well...

It was by far the most overcrowded Id ever seen it too...obviously selling more and more tickets each year and not increasing the capacity of the site in anyway....it took ages to get in between stages just through the sheer volume of people... I wonder if it will increase next year too ?

Plus it seems to be getting more and more full of chavs and idiots intent on being knobheads for the weekend, blind drunk and mashed making a nusiance of themselves inside the arena and in the campsite....

Is it just me on the points above ? All I can say is thank god for The Killers.....they were fantastic sunday evening and really made the weekend.....

Unless the line up is downright amazing next year I'm off to Glastonbury again....even if it is 3 times as far from Manchester.......

You're not alone:

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/index.p...howtopic=131180

[goanmad]

davros666, on Aug 25 2009, 08:12 AM, said:

You're not alone:

http://www.efestivals.co.uk/forums/index.p...howtopic=131180

Will I be taking advantage of the Earlybird ticket offer this morning? Will I hell!

In my opinion the V Festival has become a huge money-grabbing monster fed by high street clones intent on binge drinking. I detest the whole corporate sponsorship crap, the vile "Mr Sizzle"-type food vans and the branded piss served behind the bar. I don't even think the line-up was particularly strong this year (Sorry, Killers and Oasis but I've seen you live on a number of occasions and you're getting kinda dull and predictable now). There were periods in the day when there wasn't anything on but populist pop-chart pap (N-Dubz, McFly, The Saturdays, Katy Perry.....). Thank god for Pendulum.

Every year we get pulled over in our ancient VW camper for a "random" drug search. This even includes proving I'm bra-less and having my hair searched. Even my make-up bag is emptied out and inspected. It must be 'cos we're a bit on the "alternative" side as the nice middle classes in their hired motorhomes are allowed to sail past us and promptly start snorting coke and doing E the minute they set up camp.

After sitting in traffic for 7 hours to cover a distance of less than 20 miles you also have to queue for beer vouchers...what is the point in that? Why not get rid of the token booths and have more bars instead? Probably because they hope we'll all be too pissed to cash in our unused vouchers on the sunday night - yet another way to cash in.

The Arena search is a joke. The crowds are too vast for security to do anything other than ask if you've got booze, you could take a shotgun through and nobody would notice. In the time it takes to get through the gate, queue for a drink and find an area to stand that's not strewn with mouldering noodles, greasy chicken carcasses or solidifying Yorkshire Pudding and gravy combos you end up missing half the set of the act you were interested in seeing.

On the plus side, the toilets were a lot cleaner this year. However, there were so few of them the bins behind the Arena were a far better option.

I'm leaving V to the mainstream, it's the Green Man, Hop Fam, Indie Tracks, Glasto, Shambala and The Big Chill next year.

[scudetto_boy]

arpner, on Aug 24 2009, 11:44 PM, said:

Having just returned from my 5th V festival this year in Staffs I was appalled at how this once pretty good festival has turned into just one huge money grabbing exercise. It seems that all the promoters wish to do is extract every last piece of cash from you witout any real regard to the fact that all we want to do is enjoy the music.

examples.....

What was with the excessive heavy handed searching actually going into the arena ? We'd already been searched for glass bottles etc coming into the site ? They were taking bottles of water and coke that my and my mates had literally just bought from the shop outside off us as we went in, why do they have to do this ? Just plain money grabbing as obviously we have to re-buy the things when we get in. Now I can understand them stopping you with a 6-pack but water? ridiculous.....

Having bought a £5 bacon butty from one of the ridiculously overpriced stalls in one of the campsites I was amazed and shocked to overhear what I think was the owner of the stall complaining to another bloke that one of his staff had been putting 3 slices of bacon into the sarnies and not 2 like he was told....excuse me mate I've just paid a bloody fiver for this...I nearly had a go I tell you....
Theres seriously too many avearage, overpriced food stalls about, churning out garbage youd prob think twice about feeding to your dog....inside the arena theres some good ones but apart from that...well...

It was by far the most overcrowded Id ever seen it too...obviously selling more and more tickets each year and not increasing the capacity of the site in anyway....it took ages to get in between stages just through the sheer volume of people... I wonder if it will increase next year too ?

Plus it seems to be getting more and more full of chavs and idiots intent on being knobheads for the weekend, blind drunk and mashed making a nusiance of themselves inside the arena and in the campsite....

Is it just me on the points above ? All I can say is thank god for The Killers.....they were fantastic sunday evening and really made the weekend.....

Unless the line up is downright amazing next year I'm off to Glastonbury again....even if it is 3 times as far from Manchester.......

I didn't go myself this year but i'm sorry to read you had a bummer.

[wilko8]

I agree with your points about the food - most of it is pretty piss poor for the money that you have to pay. But as for searching I managed to get a bottle of jack & coke into the arena on friday, saturday & sunday with absolutely no problem......you've just got to be clever about it!

[bekimo]

cthulu, on Aug 25 2009, 07:50 AM, said:

I ended up in hospital on Sunday and missed everything beyond Starsailor. I had abdominal pain and bleeding . . . I don't think anyone from V will listen to me..becuase they haven't so far... but how do I complain?

With the help of a legal professional if you ask me. That's absolutely ridiculous.

[FluffyBeanie]

I want to make it clear that I had a great time this year. It was great that it was dry this year, that really helped, but I am sick of the overcrowding at V. I have been every year since 2001 (except 2005 when I was at a family wedding) and have certainly noticed big changes over the years. I won't be going back to V next year unless the line-up is supreme. I do think the organisation is pretty shoddy.

The capacity seems to have increased steadily, by too many I think. I personally couldn't believe how many people arrived early this year. It was rammed. We were in the car park at 10.10am on Friday, but then coldn't find space for our two tents in our favourite camp (Orange). That said,
we ended up in a great spot in green in the end.

A few reasons why I will be branching out:

1 - Chavs - loads of them everywhere. While we did not have any trouble with thieves or that kind of thing, from what I have heard a good few people did. Anywhere you get that many people there is bound to be crime and trouble of some sort, but security seem more dedicated to doing intimate searches to prevent booze smuggling than weeding out trouble makers.

2 - The line up - While there was enough to keep me amused over the weekend, I prefer the more rocky/indie side of things. I appreciate a bit of variety, but seeing N-Dubz and Tinchy Stryder on a bill makes me realise maybe it is time for me to go elsewhere, or I'm getting old.

3 - The main reason - only 2 days of music - Most of the other festivals are not that much more expensive, and have 3 or even 4 days of music. V is basically my summer holiday, and in these days of the credit crunch, I am going to look for something next year which offers better value for money.

We did have a great time, and I have taken away some good memories, but I will hopefully be going elsewhere next year for some new experiences.

[ladolcevita2]

I was quite suprised by this as I barely spent any money tbh, took all my own drinks in to the arena, did get searched but not very well and I actually walked in with a bottle of water in my hand one of the days.

I also found the food to be fairly good quality, I had an absolutely delish bangers and mash on one of the days! yum!!

I didn't find there to be that many wasted fools wondering round either, I was in blue campsite and it was fine. and the only time I really found there to be over crowing was when trying to watch Lady Gaga in the arena, had to leave coz I was getting super claustrophobic, she should have been on the main or channel 4 stage.

But otherwise it was amazing!

[LusciousLucy]

cthulu, on Aug 25 2009, 07:50 AM, said:

I don't think anyone from V will listen to me..becuase they haven't so far... but how do I complain?

Start by telling the press maybe...local and national? The media licks the arse of this so called festival and it is fine time it gets put to bed by getting the truth out about what a total farce this event is these days.

Facebook protest groups?

Write to Branson himself?

There WILL be people from V that will be interested I am sure as what you went through is very detrimental to the supposed health and safety issues they are trying to uphold, it is just finding the right part of the system to speak to. Complaining on a forum wont get you very far. You need to get very serious with the management directly. I cant believe the V organisers are that harsh...they are still human beings.

You got stuck with a dick jobsworth from security. You should have asked for the head of the security to speak to. When I was about to have my spray sun cream removed off me at Homelands a few years ago cos the muppet security man said it was an aerosol, I suitably kicked off telling them I had passed out from sunstroke the year before and suncream funnily enough is not a weapon!!! After the chief came over he just looked the dick staff in the eye and told them to stop being such idiots! The same thing happened with a lass in a wheelchair that had to bring her own food in because she had a very specific diet.

Where do they hire these chumps from?

I still to this day ever since its conception have know it is the silliest 'festival' in existence and have steered very very clear of it. WHY do any of you part with your hard earned money for such a bad experience?

Edited by LusciousLucy, 25 August 2009 - 11:59 AM.

[Budweiser]

arpner, on Aug 24 2009, 11:44 PM, said:

Having just returned from my 5th V festival this year in Staffs I was appalled at how this once pretty good festival has turned into just one huge money grabbing exercise. It seems that all the promoters wish to do is extract every last piece of cash from you witout any real regard to the fact that all we want to do is enjoy the music.

examples.....

What was with the excessive heavy handed searching actually going into the arena ? We'd already been searched for glass bottles etc coming into the site ? They were taking bottles of water and coke that my and my mates had literally just bought from the shop outside off us as we went in, why do they have to do this ? Just plain money grabbing as obviously we have to re-buy the things when we get in. Now I can understand them stopping you with a 6-pack but water? ridiculous.....

Having bought a £5 bacon butty from one of the ridiculously overpriced stalls in one of the campsites I was amazed and shocked to overhear what I think was the owner of the stall complaining to another bloke that one of his staff had been putting 3 slices of bacon into the sarnies and not 2 like he was told....excuse me mate I've just paid a bloody fiver for this...I nearly had a go I tell you....
Theres seriously too many avearage, overpriced food stalls about, churning out garbage youd prob think twice about feeding to your dog....inside the arena theres some good ones but apart from that...well...

It was by far the most overcrowded Id ever seen it too...obviously selling more and more tickets each year and not increasing the capacity of the site in anyway....it took ages to get in between stages just through the sheer volume of people... I wonder if it will increase next year too ?

Plus it seems to be getting more and more full of chavs and idiots intent on being knobheads for the weekend, blind drunk and mashed making a nusiance of themselves inside the arena and in the campsite....

Is it just me on the points above ? All I can say is thank god for The Killers.....they were fantastic sunday evening and really made the weekend.....

Unless the line up is downright amazing next year I'm off to Glastonbury again....even if it is 3 times as far from Manchester.......

Am i getting daja vu?

[rhysieg]

i dont know what everybody is talking about, every member of our group get every bit of alcohol through the gate, even my cousin filled a backpack as much as it would go with cans of beer and walked straight through. seriously none of us went to the bar once, we all had so much alcohol through the gates!