Stu H

Hey all. Got back yesterday (long old journey from Scotland!). I'm a long-time Glasto go-er so trying not to 'measure' everything against that in any way! Overall, I just thought it was staggering to be back at a festival having even thought 3 weeks previous it was unlikely to go ahead. I thought logistically it probably went as best as can be expected, so it's difficult to grumble at anything really. To pull off even a reasonable line up given the travel issues, during a 'pingdemic' seemed to be a bit of a miracle. Pros: many! It just felt great to be be back in fields with everyone. I didn't see a single piece of aggro or silliness all weekend, everyone was lovely and the atmosphere felt great. Having a near-cashless event worked well for me. Thought the campsite (family) was spacious, toilets were generally clean, showers worked mainly ok (long queues at times, but happens everywhere). Loved the site in general, easy to get around, especially with a double buggy! Sound wise, stages were excellent and some awesome performances. Enjoyed the Trailer Park part of the site. Food was generally good - pizzas and naan stuff were great, only real letdown was fish and chips (overpriced, chaotic ordering and collecting). Cons: (don't read too much into these, it was a very unique set of circumstances this was all held under!) I felt like I queued all weekend! Food places were exceptionally busy, as were the bars later at night. But again, with isolating staff or other issues, not a lot could be done. The Kids Area was a wee bit of a let-down, I thought there'd be a little more for them to do, but on the whole, totally fine and they had a great time. The testing side of things was a bit wacky. I basically had to take another test in my car on the Sat morning retrieving some boots (anticipating rain, doh!). No real problem with that as a thing, only I then couldn't get on 4G to register the result!!! Thankfully we're unlikely to every have to go through this again, so not a 'Festival' problem. But it did lead me to panic a bit for 30 mins as my kids were still in the site with their mother! Only real downside; leaving the festival. Something happened on the A12, but the exit from family car parks was nothing short of chaos. People trying to leave from every direction and little management of it or info. A few fraught people. It often takes ages to leave festival sites, but this one felt particularly bonkers for a while. Kudos to everyone who made it happen. Yes it wasn't perfect, but it was certainly memorable under the circumstances and very much needed!

Can understand the anxiety, I think we've all gone through varying degrees of similar! I really do think as soon as people are into the site, it'll be a glorious atmosphere and one where we can forget about the outside world for a few days. We all need the release, frankly! Hope you have a great time.

thanks for finding this! Ideal! Combining a wash and refreshment in one go! 🙂

Hey all. Long time Glasto goer, first time Latitude goer. Hugely excited as I'm sure you all are. Delighted to be able to give my kids another festival experience (2 and 4 year old) - looks like there's plenty for them to do and see. Night-time wise, is it all mainly dance music or is there other stuff going on as well? Not that it matters, everything's a bonus this year! Also, impressed there's a Co-op on site - is that usually well stocked? Thinking more for kids' breakfasts and snacks etc.

It would make my summer if it was still able to go ahead! Had Glasto tickets as well from last year.

I agree - though I hold out some misguided optimism that with furlough ending April, the legality being reviewed end of March, that there is light at end of tunnels. It's just whether it's enough time - as has been mentioned a lot in this thread, things need to be booked and paid for.

I'm getting more and more pessimistic that it will go ahead. I think it SHOULD go ahead, but I'm starting to think it's too much of a stretch. By June, a huge amount of the population will not only be vaccinated, but have inherent immunity through previous infection (not to mention pre-existing immunity already widely studied and known to be a 'thing'). Quite why we need any restrictions whatsoever in June, I have no idea, but UK Gov will work on precautionary principal and make a good attempt at screwing the entire summer economy. If they cancel Glastonbury, what else goes? All the others? Edinburgh? All the stadium gigs? Everything across Europe? I guess we get ourselves prepared for that. Many will simply not survive another lost summer.

Putting my part-time immunologist, virologist, epidemiologist hat on - COVID just won't be much of a 'thing' by next summer in the UK / Europe. It's probably endemic now already. It's not to say Governments won't continue to make bizarre decisions, but virus outbreaks don't last years - SARS 1 lasted about 8 months (obviously a significantly less impactful disease).

Technically the sunset clause of masks being a legal requirement (and not even outdoors because that's never been part of it - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/791/contents/made) is July 24th 2021, so it disappears in the summer anyway. (it's also due for review by Hancock on Jan 24th - I imagine it'll continue as it is). Regardless of anyone's views on these, there is absolutely zero reason to cover healthy mouths and noses during the non-respiratory illness season - hence they won't even be a thing by then, I'm 100% sure of it. If people want to continue wearing them, they'll have every right to do so, but for much of society, we'll simply return to how things used to be; personal freedom.

Honestly can't see that happening. Not legally enforced. It might return to guidance/personal choice. Emotive subject though, so am staying out, haha!

To add some further positivity, a host of European festivals appear to be progressing full steam ahead; Mad Cool, Nos Alive etc. In fact, festivals and artists are booking up all over the place.

You've articulated it better than I could!

Numerous things; Furlough ends March. Money running out / can't bank-roll any more Legality runs out in March, there'll be no justification for restrictions beyond then (anything will go through standard Parliamentary scrutiny, not Emergency Powers) Vaccine roll out through Dec onwards Country is reaching a more natural level of immunity in the population (I'm sure many have lots of thoughts on this, it's merely an opinion based on lots of reading, but please treat it as such) There will simply be almost zero COVID in the UK come June. Therefore, we party on!

You want someone who catches a virus through no fault of their own (it's a microscopic pathogen) to be denied hospital treatment should they need it, because you might not fully agree with their 'behaviour'? I mean, I've read some responses, but that's impressive.

Christ yes.