Damicksta2k
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- Joined: 19/03/2007
- Location: London (Edinburgh born + bread)
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When can I get in? With an Early Entry ticket you can get into the campsite at 2pm on Wednesday 22nd August 2012 (according to Festival Republic, this time can and does change). Weekend ticket access without Early Entry is from 3am on Thursday 23rd August 2012. The reason for 3am entry is to ease the problems faced in previous years of people without Early Entry tickets turning up on Wednesday and sleeping in the car park. This is the case regardless of what camping tickets you possess, there are no tickets that only let you into the campsite from Friday onwards. Your ticket will say "Friday 11am", that's the arena opening time, not the campsite. Day ticket holders may not camp. Right, i'm in. Where do I camp? Wherever you want! There are no allocated camping spots or anything, it's up to you where you park yourself. However the campsite you choose to stay in can affect your weekend! Your choices are: (2011 map - 2012 map coming very soon)  WHITE VILLAGE, YELLOW BUBBLE and BLUE VALLEY CAMPSITES - Pre-2007 these were all the Yellow campsites, if you're looking for a party atmosphere, get yourself here early. They're the closest campsites to the arena so understandably they fill up fast, and traditionally its residents enjoy staying up late, that's if they sleep at all. By far the most sociable campsites - you will easily find a group singing Wonderwall on an off-key acoustic guitar at 4am who are more than willing to share a beer or a joint with you - however avoid them if you want a decent nights sleep. Walk to Arena - 1-2 minutes (Yellow/White) 4-5 minutes (Blue) RED CAMPSITE - Red is your in-betweener campsite: still lively, still very sociable, but you'll get a few hours kip should you feel the need. You'll find an almost neighbourhood-esque atmosphere here, many Leeds veretans swear by it. Though be warned, it is on a hill, so despite "top of Red" being a prime camping spot, it's not recommended if you're planning on stumbling back to your tent 'tired and emotional' after a few! It increased in size in 2009. Walk to Arena - 7-8 minutes ORANGE CAMPSITE - Split into 2 parts and seperated by a beast of a hill, you have "Orange" and "Orange Funfair" sites, the latter named obviously after the fairground attractions you'll find yourself plonked by the side of. On one side of the hill is tranquility in the early hours of the morning, on the other (if 2007 is anything to go by, and licence pending this year) is the mother of all campsite parties! The Beef Warehouse Piccadilly Party was located by the funfair last year, and most likely will be again, so that side of the site will be rammed full of revellers dancing to loud music, next to the very noisy fairground rides. So if you're big on your after-hours entertainment this will be perfect for you as you'll be staggering distance from your tent after you're done raving. However, beware of the mammoth hill leading up into Orange campsite, as much fun as it can be in the rain, it can be lethal on your thighs should you attempt it with a heavy rucksack. Use the path to the left of the hill for access with less of a gradient. Walk to Arena - 7-8 minutes (Funfair), 10 minutes (Orange) PURPLE CAMPSITE - The front end is still fairly close to Orange Funfair, meaning you still get some of the noise from the rides and the party, but is a great site if you plan on spending most of your nights at Piccadilly party but still want some kip without the livelier atmosphere of Orange. It houses younger and older campers who want a mix of fun and sleep, though heading back towards Green you'll find chilled out groups drinking and barbecuing rather than being rowdy. Walk to Arena - 12 minutes BROWN and GREEN CAMPSITES - The quiet ones, Brown more so than Green. They're a fair trek from the arena (about 20 minutes walk), however if you want a quiet night with little disturbances, you'll get a decent kip here. Brown campsite is more closely aimed at families (and those with campervans) so if you're a younger group looking for a good nights sleep then your best bet is probably Green campsite. Brown campsite has also increased in size. Walk to Arena - 15 minutes (Green), 18 minutes (Brown) (Walk to Arena times are averages based on dry daytime conditions, add extra time when wet, dark, drunk or when in a large crowd) Can I save a spot for my mate who is coming later? Depending on when they are planning to arrive you can normally save a spot for 1 or 2 small tents with a group. Obviously some camps fill up quicker than others, so whilst its possible to try and succeed, dont guarantee it! Don't try and tell people that you're saving a large space for friends, you will be laughed at and you have no rights to land ownership. How soon do the camps fill up? By late afternoon on Thursday you probably won't get into the big 3 (yellow/white/blue) unless there's a small number of you, but chances are you'll get a decent spot in orange or red, both of which are fantastic campsites. How safe am I? As safe as you allow yourself to be. On the whole, despite what you may have heard, camping at Leeds is a very safe experience! You are never far from a CAT (Campsite Assistant Team) volunteer. These guys know their stuff, ask them anything you want, from how the hell you put your tent up or where your chosen campsite is, to borrowing a UV pen or a piece of string, they will do their absolute best to help you. Among them will be someone trained in First Aid should you hammer your tent peg to your knee or burn yourself on your trangia stove, and should (on the very rare occasion) you need more serious medical help, they will have links to the security teams and medical tent who will privide you with the level of care required. There will be plenty of staff on hand to help you, no matter your situation: • Customer Protection Officers are in white tabards and are supervisors. • Customer Support Officers are in bottle green tabards • Oxfam stewards are in yellow or orange tabards • Campsite Assistance Teams are in turquoise tabards • Traffic marshals are in royal blue tabards • Fire marshals are in red tabards • Zone Managers are in burgundy tabards and are overall managers of their zone. You are only going to get into danger if you put yourself in it. If you see idiots messing around with fire, get the hell away from them. If you see a fight breaking out, walk away from it. The majority of people who have been injured at the festival put themselves in that position in the first place. So on the whole - if you're sensible then you have nothing to worry about! And my stuff? Again, there are simple little things you can do to keep your belongings safe. Most importantly, if it would devistate you if you lost or broke it, don't bring it. Stuff like iPods are pretty unnecessary for a festival, and you can guarantee they're the first things a thief would go for. So leave them behind. If you really have to bring them, have them on you at all times, and when you're sleeping keep them at the bottom of your sleeping bag. Padlocks are not advisable. If a potential thief sees a padlocked tent, they're going to assume that there's something of value in it, and lets face it, canvas isn't the hardest of material to break into. Also, locking yourself into your tent is a nasty little fire hazard. If you're carrying 'vital valuables' such as money and keys, your best bet is to find yourself a pair of trousers or shorts with zipped pockets, these are the most secure and will protect you should you find yourself in any mosh pit. Once again, at night, keep them at the very bottom of your sleeping bag for safety. (An interesting little tip - if you have loose notes (fivers, tenners), keep them in your shoes. It sounds stupid, but seriously, you won't lose them! Just don't for God's sake go crowdsurfing.) And finally, never leave anything outside your tent. Seating in particular which some choose to leave outsite is often seen (unfairly) as fair game and has a tendancy to go missing, as do flags and signs which people attach to their tent. If you have anything really valuable that you need kept safe (car keys, passports), lockers will be available on site for £15. I'm cold, can I light a fire? Bonfires are not permitted anywhere in the festival, however 'campfires' ("small campfires fuelled by clean wood...where the flame itself is below knee height and less than one pace wide") will be permitted in the campsite. They will be monitered and put out if they get out of hand. There will be a firewood trader onsite so that you can buy clean wood for your small campfires. An official bonfire display is held in the campsites on Sunday night. What's that big dirt track running through my campsite? Can I camp there? That would be an emergency access lane. If you are camped in an emergency access lane, your tent will have to be moved by the security teams. If you return to your tent to find it missing, please make a note of the campsite that you are in and go to the nearest Campsite Office or fire tower (situated near the toilet blocks). If you find yourself without accommodation due to your tent being removed, go to the Welfare Tent in the Village Area. It's open 24 hours and they will be happy to help you. Please keep in mind, Festival Republic will accept no responsibility should your tent or anything in it get damaged or go missing in the event of it being moved for the above reasons. What shouldn't I take with me?
This part is up to you, but take note of one or two things.
Firstly, the official rules - no glass, no drugs, no weapons. Glass and weapons should be a given, both can be lethal - is there really any use for them? Pour your alcohol into plastic bottles (empty coke/water bottles are good), and don't take any food which you'd need a knife to open or eat, thereby eliminating the need for knives. A lot of campers swear by pen/Swiss Army knives, and granted they can be extremely useful when camping out in the wilderness. But at a festival there is very little, if any need for them, and they are extremely likely to be confiscated, so to be honest you're best leaving them behind for the weekend. Should you really have to file your nails with your swiss army knife, the GHD tent on site will sort you out.
As for drugs - the official line is that they aren't permitted on site and that security and the police on site are well within their rights to deal with you as they see fit, so leave them behind. Realistically, we all know that they're used by a number of - mostly peaceful - campers. If you're using them in the confines of your own tent and not setting things on fire or kicking people then you 'probably' won't run into any trouble. However, start any fights or cause any large explosions then what ends up happening to you is your own damn fault.
Secondly, campsite toys - they're great fun. Water pistols for example, great if it's a warm day and for playfully squirting security with. Twister - a great way to get to know your neighbours. Giant 3-man catapults however...
Yes firing water ballons and other softer, less harmful objects is a laugh. But, tins of food, apples and rocks? Absolutely no need. This year, I have a feeling that those supervising the campsites will be cracking down hard on these, so leave them behind. All in all, bring what you feel is necessary, as well as things to relieve that night time boredom. But trust me - you're not cool if you're catapulting heavy objects across campsites, burning things or lying twisted on the ground off your face on dodgy pills looking as though you've fallen out a wheelchair. What about gas canisters? Gas canisters are not permitted anywhere in the festival grounds this year, reguardless of size. This includes within the campsite area. Can I take alcohol into the campsites? As long as it's not in glass botles, yes. If you want to take spirits with you, pour them into plastic bottles before you leave for the festival. If any glass bottles are found on you (it's the one thing they check you quite heavily for) they will be taken off you. You cannot take alcohol into the arena. Can I camp if I only have a day ticket? Technically no, but people do. If you're crashing in your mate's tent for the night before going home the next again morning, fine, you're not taking up any space. But don't try and bring tents with you if you only have a day ticket. Be prepared to be removed from the site if you are found without a valid wristband. Can I camp if I bought a coach package ticket? Coach packages include a weekend ticket, so yes. What food should I take? You'll find some ideas here. Please remember that gas canisters are not permitted anywhere around the festival site so if you plan on bringing anything that reqires cooking bear in mind that you'll need something that runs off coal, meths, solid fuel blocks, firewood, anything but gas stoves. A shuttle bus runs to Tesco regularly from Thursday - Sunday, to save you from dragging food all the way to the festival it may be an idea to set up camp then ctch a bus to Tesco to stock up. What are the showers like? There are 30-40 communal (but single sex) hot showers in the campsite. If you're shy then wear your undies to shower in, or find a slot during the day when you don't want to watch any bands and take one then. There are no lockers, but there is a 'drying' area and hooks to hang clothes off the floor. Can I leave site once I am in?
You can leave and return as many times as you want as long as your wristband is on you. When will I get kicked out the campsite? The campsite will close at midday on Monday 27th August. ---------------------- I hope I haven't missed anything else out, keep an eye here for details of campsite entertainment or any other developments, should anything else crop up i'll edit accordingly. If i've missed anything, or there's anything else you want to know, give any of the Mods a shout!
<message edited by Damicksta2k on 20 March 2012 23:22>
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