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TERMS & CONDITIONS, AND OTHER INFORMATION

FESTIVAL OPENING TIMES

  • Wednesday for add-on camping ticket holders 5pm (Campsite entry between 4pm and 8pm)

  • Thursday 3pm (Campsite 2pm for campers only)

  • Friday 10am

  • Saturday 10am 

  • Sunday 10am

  • Campsite check-out midday Monday

  • On Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon previous night campers can enter the arena earlier for coffees and breakfast etc. Thursday morning TBC.

For directions, please see the getting here page. 

CARS

  • There is a free day carpark near the box office, and another for campers at the campsite entrance.

  • The campsite car park is for campers wishing to drive off site during the festival (after unloading).

  • Alternatively, campers can park on their pitch, but there is to be no vehicle movement on the campsite over the festival, for safety reasons, until you leave.

  • Wednesday arrivers (those with a Wednesday add-on ticket) should note that travel off-site by car is restricted on Thursday morning. If you wish to drive off site on Thursday morning, this must be done before 10am. The gate will then be closed until 2pm, and at that time there is likely to be a large queue of vehicles waiting to get onto the campsite. An alternative is to use the pedestrian exit to Kirklington village and order a taxi/Uber to and from there (or it is a 3.5 mile walk to Southwell).

CAMPING

  • See notes on cars above.

  • The campsite is by the lake so please be aware of water safety. Do not enter the water. If you have young children we suggest selecting a pitch at the other side of the campsite.

  • Campsite access is only available to those with a Weekend or Weekend Extra ticket and separate camping tickets.

  • You can upgrade your camping to "glamping" see here.  You still need to buy a festival ticket and a camping pass in order to glamp.

  • You must check you have the right sized camping pitch. If you think you need to upgrade please contact us at tickets@southwellfolkfestival.org.uk

  • Large pitches are approximately 8m x 8m, and you must buy one of these if you have a motorhome or caravan. Large tents will also need one. Standard pitches are 5m x 8m. You should take into account a 1m fire gap at the internal edge of your pitch.

  • All Campers – Please remember that noise carries further than you think. Please consider neighbours when playing music (either recorded or live). Additionally, there are residents close to the festival site and the festival can only happen with their co-operation and goodwill.

  • Barbecues and fires are not allowed.

  • Please vacate the campsite by midday Monday.

TOILETS/SHOWERS

There are two main toilet areas in the festival arena. One is by the Boathouse Stage in the Lake Stage arena. The other is near the main bar (Barleycorn Bar). There are disabled toilets at each location. There are toilets (including accessible toilets) for children next to the Children's Tent.

There are three toilet locations on the campsite. The central one has showers and disabled toilets, and a disabled shower. 

There are two chemical toilet disposal points on the campsite, one at the central toilet/shower position and the other at the toilet block by the lake. Please do not empty chemical waste into the toilets. This causes the toilets to shut down.

ALCOHOL/GLASS

You are not allowed to bring alcoholic drinks or glass containers of any sort on to the main event arena. You may bring your own alcohol on to the campsite.

BAR GLASSES

We have our lovely reusable GTSF plastic "glasses" again and these are £2 (you can swap them at the bar for clean ones over the weekend). Or bring your own if you prefer.

BAG CHECKS

We will be conducting security bag checks at entry points to the event. We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone not willing to have their bags checked. This includes searches at entry points to the arena for glass and alcohol, and other restricted/illegal items such as weapons or drugs.

COUNTER TERRORISM

Before you arrive remember that security checks are in place to keep you safe.
Look after each other and please be vigilant. Report anything that doesn’t feel right to a member of the security team.

ACCESSIBILITY

We have an accessible camping area and disabled parking. Qualifying personal assistants are entitled to a free ticket. See here for details on accessibility provision.

The ground is farmland and so is not without its bumps, and some of it may be difficult to traverse. Stewards will be able to help in emergencies.

CHAIRS

There will be limited fixed seating in the Lake Stage marquee but there's space for you to bring your own mats or small/medium camping chairs. We also recommend bringing chairs or mats to sit on in front of the other stages if you prefer not to stand.  The Lake Stage (main stage) is covered.  The Folk Stage is in a marquee, without walls most of the time, and the Frontier Stage is mostly open with an audience covered area nearest to the stage. Chairs must be removed from stages when unoccupied. 

TROLLEYS

You can bring trolleys to the arena, but they cannot be brought inside the Lake Stage or Folk Stage marquees. They can cause obstruction in the event of a safety evacuation.

UNDER 16s

Anyone under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

DOGS

We are pleased to welcome your well-behaved dogs to the festival. These are allowed on the campsite and in the festival arena. They should be on the lead in these areas. They are not allowed inside the Folk Stage marquee or Steeples (the workshop marquee). They are allowed into the indoor market and under the main stage cover, though if they start to make a noise, or become anxious we may ask you to move to an uncovered area. If you feel there is even a remote chance of your nervous dog snapping at another dog or a person, please either muzzle them or leave them at home.

We have set aside a dog exercise area, but this is not securely fenced so won't be suitable off-lead for dogs without 100% recall. However, there is also a private secure off-lead exercise field 5 minutes walk away. This needs to be booked (the owners charge an hourly rate). See here.

WALKS

There are lots of lovely walks from the festival - and the Robin Hood Way goes right past the fields. We will have laminated route maps available in the box office.

DATA PROTECTION

Please see our privacy policy here

PHOTOGRAPHY

There will be photographers on site taking photographs and video, in public areas, for publicity purposes. These may be used on our website, social media channels and other marketing materials. It is a condition of entry that you consent for images/videos to be used. 

NO LIABILITY

We accept no liability for loss or damage to your personal property or possessions, however caused.

NO REFUNDS

We will refund the ticket price if the event is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances (except where that relates to terrorism). Tickets are non-refundable otherwise, except in very exceptional circumstances and at the total discretion of the festival (this may be a refund or a carry-over the next year). There will be strictly no refunds after June 1st.

ARTISTS

Every effort will be made to carry out the programme as advertised. However, we give no warranty that artists named in the programme or in any publicity will perform at any particular time, or at all, and reserve the right to present alternative performers and re-programme events where unforeseen circumstances prevail. Entry to individual performances is subject to safe capacity limits of each stage so is not guaranteed.

INSURANCE

We recommend that you consider taking out personal/travel insurance to cover the cost of your tickets and travel should you be unable to attend (e.g. for health reasons). Please check that your travel insurance policy includes UK festivals.

INCLUSIVITY

GTSF is an inclusive festival. We do not tolerate any actions or insignia which may be threatening or offensive to minority groups. We will exclude anyone we feel is acting in an oppressive way, and reserve the right to remove any insignia/flags which, in our opinion, have such overtones.

NO UNAUTHORISED TRADING OR PROMOTION

Please note the Festival does not allow leafleting, advertising, or selling of goods or services without prior written approval. Failure to comply may result in removal from the festival without a refund.

2ND - 5TH JULY 2026

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Copyright, The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival Ltd. Gate to Southwell Festival | Nottinghamshire, England. Reg 06242562 

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Various images via vecteezy.com

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