Does your group bring a gazebo?

[siblin]

I dont have a problem with it for big groups, I understand why they might want shelter for their communal group.

this year its only going to be 2-3 of us so we wont be bothering, but i'd rather a group brought reasonable sized tents and a gazebo to sit in the middle than some of the ludicrously sized tents people bring.

[bombfrog]

Gazebos are easy to point at, but they're not the cause of the problem. There used to be many more spaces left for campfires - noone whinged about them cos they couldn't point at them across a field. Stick a gazebo over that same space and everyone's offended

Look on any tent thread here - EVERYONE talks about taking massive tents. Big 9 man star shaped things for 3 people, huge vis-a-vis affairs... I've done it myself god knows it's easy now they're cheap, but still not the gazebo's fault. Folk used to take tiny cheap tents out of fear of them getting ruined, now why not a massive canvas bell tent? at least that might get taken home after.

[oneeye]

Ha ha, and so it continues....

Why does the festival ask people not to bring gazebos?

Im all for live and let live etc...... but if they say don't bring them then why do you?

[TheGreenDropsRule]

Gazebo threads are so frustrating! I think pretty much everyone agrees that having a big gazebo in the middle of a tent circle which takes up a space where someone else could be camped is selfish and a no no. However the justifiable argument that many people put across is where the gazebo is taking up no more room than every non gazebo camp has anyway for sitting space, we'll there really isn't a lot wrong with that.

I don't actually think the festival has a problem with responsible use of a gazebo (after all why would they - they are reasonable people and they would know a gazebo used responsibly has absolutely no negative impact on anyone). However they ask people not to bring them to limit the amount being left behind and to give camp stewards some backup when dealing with irresponsibly placed ones.

PS I've never brought a gazebo - far too heavy and cumbersome to lug across the site and don't spend enough time at camp to justify it.

[TheGreenDropsRule]

Ha ha, and so it continues....

Why does the festival ask people not to bring gazebos?

Im all for live and let live etc...... but if they say don't bring them then why do you?

[oneeye]

Just out of interest, what's your attitude to people bringing drugs to glastonbury?

[TheGreenDropsRule]

You got me there; ok lets all bring gazebos

[stardustjunkie]

If everyone had the same argument of "I need shelter from the sun and rain" and everyone bought a gazebo with them, what would we do? Why are some people entitled to that extra shelter while others have to cram in somewhere else? It's not uncommon to see tents pitched on the edges of paths where they technically shouldn't be (can't remember exactly where I often see this but I think it's Park Home).

As for the campfire argument, we had a campfire. Why? Because our neighbours camped close enough to us to stop another tent fitting in (especially given the angle), but far away enough to safely have a small fire that we could fit a few of us around on the floor/small stalls, not full blown camping chairs. If another tent had pitched there we wouldn't have been able to get out of our front door. We wouldn't have stopped anyone trying to be honest, we didn't light a fire as soon as we were pitched, I'm sure lots of people had plenty of opportunities to pitch their tent there if they had one small enough, but they didn't. We also camped in Bushy Ground because it's quieter and less people try to camp there. If you want that breathing room then try one of the fields on the outskirts of the festival. Gazebos on the other hand are definitely large enough to take up enough room for at least one 2-3 man tent.

I think everyone should have a bit of breathing room between tents, not for a large communal area but just so they can get out of their tent comfortably and also cook on a small stove if they can't afford to buy food all the time. A whole gazebo is taking the piss. Every single one of us knows that not everyone can take a gazebo because we wouldn't all fit. So why should some and not others?

I don't understand why the festival are asking like that. If they don't want them then they have the right to ban them outright. Of course people then whine about rules, but the festival has plenty of rules for plenty of good reasons. It doesn't make it a bad place. I'd be very surprised if someone turned around and said they weren't going anymore because they're not allowed a gazebo.

[Avalon_Fields]

Maybe in the future it could be a sensible compromise to have gazebos in the less popular fields where there is free space, and discourage them from the remainder, so accommodating all needs?

[stardustjunkie]

There is definitely a lot more room in the fields that are further out. I think if you like the idea of a communal area and want to spend that much time at your tent, that is a very happy compromise.

I quite liked the post earlier that suggested gazebos are only allowed after a certain day/time. That allows people to camp in the space needed and then any extra room can be utilised.

[stuartbert two hats]

We had a tiny gazebo in 2007. There was loads of space in the field and on the Sunday when it trained all day, the thing was a bloody life saver. I've not been in a group with one any other year, but have generally had at least as much space around our tents on the non-gazebo years.

There is non-responsible gazebo use, which is why the organisers don't want them. Respecting their wishes is the biggest reason not to bring them, most of the other arguments don't really stack up, unless you are taking a massive one and being territorial.

I've never brought one myself, to be clear.

[frostypaw]

I just can't see what's the problem when so many bring the big tents with communal areas - they take up just as much room in a more anti social way

We need a very high resolution aerial photo

[RandomBunny]

In a way more gazebos would be good because the popular areas to camp in get too full, with tents virtually on top of other tents. It makes it hard to find walk ways through to the footpaths. Gazebos mean more pathways and more social areas to meet new people. Unfortunately it doesnt really work like that.

[LondonTom]

How would you feel with enough space for four or five people to sit with a small fire? Still as embarrassed and self-conscious?

My point being most would be happy to take the space for a fire but...

[keeno]

I'll be bringing a gazebo this year. There's a few reasons this whole 'please don't bring gazebo' fiasco gets on my nerves.

1. There's four of us and we keep our gazebo/tent size to an absolute minimum - it'd be very easy to bring massive tents and not even get looked at twice.

2. We, as everyone should, take every little speck of rubbish/property with us. Around our camp spot is spotless when we walk away.

3. When it's bucketing down with rain and blazing sun, there's not a chance the organisers/celebrities struggle to find shelter - i'd like to see them try and get changed/get organised for the day/cook etc. day after day in the rain and then lecture people about not bringing shelter. If they were really worried about space, surely they could decrease the hospitality areas a bit.

4. We understand that a gazebo takes up a bit more space than not having one, hence we camp on the very fringes of the festival, where space is less of an issue.

If you're not greedy with your space, sensible with looking after your stuff and take it all home, then I see no problem in a gazebo. I'm all for camping and 'doing it rough' - but theres a point where it can become uncomfortable, if a bloody gazebo makes someones Glasto experience many times better, then let them bring one! I like Glastonbury's lack of rules and their trust in people doing the right thing, this reeks of the opposite, a bit like what came out this time last year about not bringing alcohol on trolleys.

Not everyone is a bell end.

[russycarps]

do you people all rush back to your gazebos when it rains/is really sunny then?

I am amazed I've coped without one for so long if they are so vital to shelter from the rain/blazing sun, according to you gazebo-bringers.

Edited June 16, 2014 by russycarps

[outlinereality]

We've never taken one, but this year have considered it a few times over! We've decided not to, but will have something similar between two tents. This takes up no more space than any other year as it'll be in the communal area. And when I say 'area' it's a tiny space not big enough for another tent, yet it's for almost 30 in our camp.

As someone with fair skin, that gets sun burnt as soon as I come out of the tent at 9AM, I find some of these responses a little harsh. I don't think it's much to ask to take up no more space but have less of a chance of getting very ill. (Which has happened before.)

Each to their own, but some of us are VERY considerate, never leave a scrap of rubbish and take up no more space.

[progue]

If you are in a group of 20+ and take a gazebo with you, then I really cannot see an issue as long as you take it home with you. Less than half a square meter per person or about the size of an average camping chair.

It means that people can sit out and be sociable if it rains and as others have said it can provide a bit of shade when it gets too hot.

We generally don't take one, but as a large group, we do have a campfire area, which takes up just as much room as a gazebo would. The fire attracts loads of people to come in and sit for a chat or some entertainment and it just wouldn't be the same place if we couldn't have it...

So long as people are being reasonable, then I think others should just let them be.

[SonOfTroyMcClure]

No.

Also with a festival as utterly massive/diverse as Glastonbury, why is anyone planning on staying at their campsite long enough to warrant one? I'm usually awake at 9/10am, and out watching bands by 12. So other than the obvious (and valid) arguments against taking one, from a purely practical standpoint it's a lot of hassle for something I don't need or plan on using.

[storm]

do you people all rush back to your gazebos when it rains/is really sunny then?

I am amazed I've coped without one for so long if they are so vital to shelter from the rain/blazing sun, according to you gazebo-bringers.

[progue]

No.

Also with a festival as utterly massive/diverse as Glastonbury, why is anyone planning on staying at their campsite long enough to warrant one? I'm usually awake at 9/10am, and out watching bands by 12. So other than the obvious (and valid) arguments against taking one, from a purely practical standpoint it's a lot of hassle for something I don't need or plan on using.

[russycarps]

Remember that not everyone is the same. Believe it or not, there are actually people who couldn't care less whether or not they see a band at all.

For some, the social aspect of just sitting around camp late at night chatting to randoms etc. is far more fulfilling than watching a big TV screen of Radio 1's latest darling promoting their current album.

[Ruwise]

If people take them home with them and don't try and take up too much space in the most popular fields I don't have much problem with them but I do have to say people talk about them being a social space but I've generally found them to be quite the opposite. They are usually used by large groups who will be social with each other (the people they already know before coming to the festival) but they don't usually make much effort to talk to others around them and often give dirty looks etc if people dare to walk under their gazebo to get out and so they actually have the opposite effect. If you do take them remember you are no more entitled to that patch of lad than any other festival goer and invite your tent neighbours round so they can all feel it actually is a social space.

[The Nal]

There was FAR more socialising around camp fires, long before these gazebos came along, than there is now. If people coped then, why cant people cope now?

[The_Amazing_Oblong]

I personally couldn't give a toss if people bring gazebos or not. Blame shifting though isn't it ? The reason why space is so tight in the more popular areas is because the best areas have been given over to crew camping and removed from public. Huge swathes of the best real estate fenced off from the public but with hardly anybody camped in it. I find the no gazebos thing a bit disingenuous.

Anyway the general rule tends to be those who arrive first get the best spots and as much space as they need. I don't understand anyone being upset if they arrive late and have to camp farther out. To arrive late and then call the people with gazebos or big tents entitled is hypocrisy at its best.