Headliners
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LOUNGE ON THE FARM MUSIC FESTIVAL
A FARMER’S GUIDE TO LOUNGING
Hello from us all at Merton Farm. Not long to go til this years festival - and if you’re anywhere near as excited as we are then you’re ready to pop as we zoom towards the weekend of Kent’s bestest Music Festival.. We’ve put this guide together to help you enjoy the highs and avoid the lows of lounging, farm style...
Below is some very important information that we recommend you ALL read before setting off for this years festival..
THE SITE
Merton Farm is a mixed arable farm between the A2 and the B2068. The site enjoys fantastic drainage and rarely stays muddy for long. The farm is quite hilly in parts but the main arena with the majority of the entertainment is fairly flat. If you are carrying an injury or have a disability moving around the site can be quite tiring but hopefully well worth it!
1. Gates open at 6pm on Thursday 8th July 2010. There is no entertainment Thursday evening, and only one bar and basic facilities / amenities open. The gate closes at 11pm.
2. Festival opens officially at 9am on Friday 9 July. Please do not arrive before 9am as you will be unable to access the site.
3. The festival gate is open from 9am to 9pm each day for entrance to the festival.
4. The site closes officially at midday on Monday.
ALCOHOL
Due to restrictions placed upon our new licence by Canterbury City Council, in objection to our initially submitted licence, absolutely NO alcohol is permitted to be brought onto site by the general public in 2010.
This is a condition that took us by surprise at our recent licensing hearing. We are really very sorry, and are completely aware this is a massive inconvenience to most attendees. We are looking to offer slabs of beer / cider / wine for sale at cost price in the campsite to Adult Weekend Ticket Holders to make up for this.
We will keep you posted as to how this will be redeemed on site. This is a restriction that will only last 12 months, and it was literally this or NO festival. Believe us, we tried everything...
WRISTBANDS
All wristbands are issued on arrival at the site box office. They are non-replacable.
The campsite is only accessible to Weekend Wristband holders. The family campsite is only accessible to Weekend Wristband holders with an additional Family Wristband. Likewise for Caravan / Campervan Campers.
Day Wristband holders cannot access any of the campsites and must leave the festival site at 12am when the music finishes.
GETTING THERE - USING GREEN TRAVEL
1. Go green. Travelling by public transport saves money, reduces stress and you won’t lose your car keys.
2. Cantebury is served by two train stations - Canterbury East, which is on the London Victoria to Dover line, and Canterbury West, which is on the Kings Cross to Ramsgate line.
3. Shuttle buses to the festival run from Canterbury West Station, Canterbury East Station and Canterbury Bus Station every 45 mins. They cost £2 per trip. The shuttle buses run from 9am Friday morning through til Monday at midday.
4. We have Festival Coaches running coaches from Bromley, Bexley, Bluewater and Rochester so hop on board. To book your place visit www.festivalcoaches.co.uk.
5. Taxis are not permitted to drop off or pick up on Merton Lane – the taxi rank is in the day parking field opposite Merton Lane.
GETTING THERE - BY CAR
1. Weekend parking for 2010 has moved. The new weekend parking is on Nackington Road opposite Simon Langton School. DO NOT attempt to access the site on Merton Lane. FREE Shuttle buses (running from 9am Friday morning to Monday midday) will transport you from the weekend car park to the festival site. Parking costs £10 per car, and is payable in cash on arrival at the car park. If you are using SatNav the postcode for the weekend car park is CT4 7AS.
2. Family parking is still on Lounge On The Farm Festival site, accessible via Merton Farm Main Entrance. Only famillies will be admitted to this carpark. Please follow signs and enter the site via the BOX OFFICE Entrance.
3. Day ticket parking is in the same place as 2009, opposite the festival entrance on Merton Lane. This carpark is open from 9am until 1am to allow for day ticket holders to come and go from the site. Parking costs £10 per car, and is payable in cash on arrival at the car park. If you are using SatNav the postcode for the day ticket car park is CT4 7BA. Please follow signs and enter the carpark via the DAY PARKING Entrance.
4. Campervans and Caravans Ticket Holders need to access the site via the BOX OFFICE Entrance.
5. Please avoid using the Wincheap direction to access the festival, traffic flow is much improved when accessing the festival via New / Old Dover Road.
6. Anyone parking on the roadside on Merton Lane or Nackington Lane in breach of roadside laws will have their tickets to the festival confiscated and / or their vehicles towed.
WHAT TO BRING
1. Don’t forget your ticket and ID.
2. Only bring what you can afford to lose. Tents aren’t secure.
3. Don’t forget, no alcohol.
4. Travel light. Everything you need will be available on site from our campsite shops, but always have wet wipes and a torch.
5. Bring all weather clothing – ponchos, walking boots, lots of dry socks and a high factor suncream.
6. Lounge on the Farm has the best festival food around and its cheap too so you can always leave the food and cooking equipment at home. If you do want to cater for yourselves, controlled heatsources such as Camping Gas stoves are fine. BBQs are not.
7. Bring 1 ATM card for cashback at the bars. Make a note of the numbers to make cancellation easier. Keep cash to a minimum. Also make a note of your phones IMEI number. Press *#06# on your phone and write it down. This will make cancellation easier if necessary.
8. Only bring the keys that you absolutely need.
9. Bring your vital medications.
GETTING IN
1. Give your friends their tickets in advance. There is no point trying to meet outside the festival to do this.
2. Be prepared to show your ticket to bus stewards and car park stewards but DO NOT give your ticket to anyone until you reach the wristbanding box offices on Merton Farm.
3. Buy a programme at the gate so you’re ahead of the game when you get on site.
MAKING CAMP
1. There are quiet camp areas if you prefer. Follow the signs or ask a steward.
2. There are campsite hubs in all fields. At these points you can ask for help, advice or any welfare matters. Stewards here are trained and are there to help you.
3. Note where you have camped in relation to the fixed fire point number or put a flag on your tent. Tents are easy to lose in a sea of tents.
4. Build a community and look out for eachother but....
5. ..... try not to build giant circles of tents that take up too much room.
6. Don’t build campfires on site.
7. Use UV pens to postcode your property. Spread your belongings out and keep them to a minimum.
8. Candles are dangerous and pointless. Use a torch.
9. If you discover a fire raise the alarm immediately but do not put yourself at risk by tackling it.
10. Respect your neighbours and watch your volume as it gets later. Do not use personal sound systems.
GETTING AROUND
1. Watch out for congestion at gates, especially The Crossroads. If it looks too busy it probably is so take a seat and chill out for a bit.
2. Keep in touch with your friends on your mobile. You can also leave messages at the campsite hubs.
3. Cash back is available at all the bars except The Farmhouse.
4. Lost children will be taken in the first instance to First Aid.
5. At the end of each day visitors with day tickets will be directed to exit by the main stage to shuttle buses or taxi ranks. Please leave the site as quietly as possible and if you choose to walk home or back to Canterbury please respect our neighbours.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
1. Disabled parking is on the Lounge On The Farm Festival Site, accessible via Main Entrance.
2. Carer tickets must be collected from the main Box Office on your arrival at Merton Farm.
3. Disabled facilities are available across the site.
CHILDREN
1. There are 3 types of under 18 tickets. Tots which are 0-5 years, Children which are 6 – 12 years and Youths which are 13 – 17 years. All of these tickets must be accompanied by a responsible adult or legal guardian as laid out in our Terms and Conditions.
2. Family ticket holders have 2 fields. Families must camp together. Children wearing Family, child or youth wristbands will not be allowed to camp in the main campsite unaccompanied.
3. Children are provided with blank white wristbands. Please write an emergency mobile number on this wrist band. DO NOT WRITE THE CHILDS NAME.
