As promised, we've got something special to announce today.
Yesterday we received a letter from the Council Licensing Department to say, subject to traffic and noise limit restrictions, our application to relocate to a new site has been approved! We're really excited!
"Why the move?".
Well, we've wanted to increase our capacity from 4000 to 5000 for a while and, to help bring in the extra punters, we want to have a 'Heavy Rock' stage to bring in the 'Download' crowd. Obviously, neither of these things are possible where we are, sited on the top of a cliff.
How have we done this?
If you've ever been to Watchet or Watchet Festival you may have seen two small islands out in the Bristol Channel (approximately 3-4 nautical miles from Watchet): Flat Holm and Steep Holm. To cut a long story short, we've only gone and hired Flat Holm!
Why Flat Holm?
Steep Holm, as the name suggests, isn't suited to camping. Flat Holm has it's own pub, shop, ample flat fields suitable for a 4th stage and camping space for an additional 500 people. Also, there are hardly any residents to complain about the noise!
How will people get there?
Well, we have a signed letter of understanding from 2 local boat owners. One will run a ferry service to the island and the other back to Watchet. We haven't firmed up on all the details but we can tell you that on the Friday and Monday we will run a service every 30 mins and on the Saturday & Sunday we hope to run 9 or 10 trips from Watchet to the island each day, starting at 5am and finishing at 10pm (subject to the weather and tides). There may need to be an additional charge to use this service. Although the ferries are licences to take 500 people per trip seats will be limited (300 people per trip). The remaining 200 will be required to stand for the 30 minute sailing. It will be possible to reserve a seat at an additional surcharge of £5.50.
Now for the bad news!
For obvious reasons there'll be no campervans and only 2 man tents will be allowed to be brought over. Larger, pitched tents will be available to hire on the island (prices TBC).
No food or alcohol will be allowed on the ferries and to ensure we don't run out, people will be limited to 5 drinks per day from the bar. Tokens will be available at £5 per token. As traders will need to arrange for their stalls to be taken to and from the island food prices will need to increase. There will be a cap of £6.
As you can imagine, the hire of the island doesn't come cheap. So, starting next year, ticket prices will also need to rise to £105.80 per adult and £60 per child (2-15).
We will be sending out emails later this week with more details but that's all we are at liberty to pass on for now.
We hope you are all as excited as we are?
