2020 The Year That Lost A Summer
Since the UK went into its first lockdown, there has been growing concern for the future of live events. This time last year, a Summer without live music was looking increasingly likely. So you can imagine how relieved we were when the team behind Starry Skies and Shambala announced their plans to reinvigorate Summer 2020. Carry on Kelmarsh was billed as a “once in a lifetime opportunity”, and we can confirm it was all that and more.
So Good To be back in a Field
Carry On Kelmarsh: The Concept
Three weekends of socially distanced camping on the hallowed grounds of Kelmarsh Hall. (If you know about this beautiful site, then you are part of a crowd who have literally lived in Utopia). A unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty, and 200 acres of grounds with woodland, and beautiful gardens full in Summer bloom. Throw into the mix a jam packed schedule of daytime classes/activities, some trusted food vendors and what have you got? A socially distanced safe and spacious pop up campsite, with the look and feel of a festival.
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Booking was easy with a number of glamping accommodation options; including bell tents, yurts and tepees from Fred’s Yurts, and vintage canvas tents from Vintents. You also had the option of adding a BYO tent to each glamping pitch. Each pitch stood at a whopping 10m X 10m (some were even 12m x 12m) and at least 10 m between each pitch. So plenty of room for an extra 3 man, and still room for a fire pit and some fold out chairs! The cherry on the cake had to be that EVERY single camping square has its own LOO!
That’s gotta be worth the ticket price alone, as well as being Invaluable for those early morning code red moments. 🙂 .
Socially Distanced Set up, including a private porta loo for each pitch
A Windy Welcome
Checking in was a cinch! We arrived late Thursday afternoon and joined an orderly car queue. A member of the team came to our window to take our booking reference before showing us our tent location. It was literally that easy. Big props, even with the freak wind over that weekend the whole checking in went smooth. Our welcome pack included a map, some useful contacts and the list of activities to keep us entertained all weekend.
More Kudos! Parking was plentiful and only a stones throw from the camping area completely eliminating any urge to overload our trolley. I ABSOLUTELY loved the way the tent area was laid out, all tents were facing towards the picturesque Kelmarsh Hall and lake, and It was an absolute treat to see everybody sitting out on there allocated space watching the sun set behind us.
That Kelmarsh Energy
I’m a believer in energies and how they resonate well after the physical object has gone. So when I stood on the porch of our Vintent staring out over the hall, I felt something. Something warming, energetic and euphoric. Almost like the leftover energy from a thousand Shambalan’s clapping their hands, stomping their feet, and thrusting to some power ballads. I reckon the utopian spirit from previous years is well and truly embedded in the site.
It’s that very spirit that made it such a great camping experience. Almost like being at the festival itself minus the crowds and madness. Regardless, of an evening you could still hear the shrieks of excited kids tearing around with their siblings, and newly made pals. Or the chatter and laughter of couples and groups of friends gathered round for a glass of something. After 5 months of a world gripped by rona it was a welcome relief.
Vintents
We booked a pre erected (oh Matron!) vintage canvas tent with Vintents. Not only are these tents ridiculous trendy but they (can) come decked out with fairy lights, mattresses and tables depending on what package you went for. We had been lusting after these quirky canvas tents ever since we saw them at Shambala 2019, and with everything else being cancelled that year, we thought we would treat ourselves to the luxury package. The Natural sheepskin rug was a pretty magic touch and a dream to step on barefoot. We are now of the firm belief that every festival tent should have a sheepskin rug regardless of the practicality’s! 😉
I think we left our heart in that 70’s tent! We would book a Vintent time and time again, because not only are the tents dope AF, but the owners Harry and Georgia are quite possibly the most friendly and helpful pair we have ever met. In true Daddy Pete fashion I managed break our zip on the second day, but thankfully it was nothing long. A quick text to the team, and they were at our tent in minutes. Georgia used her inherent tent wizardry and we were back in business with a working zip within the hour. Just in time for the freak downpour.
Rushing back to the tent before the rain hits
Back to the tent. It really was cosy as you like, with plenty of space for us three and all of our belongings. Little touches like the orange flower power handmade curtains made it oooze with vintage style. Though Em soon changed that by decorating it with his 40,000 toy cars that he insisted we bring.
Partitions separating the sleeping areas meant we could actually put Em to sleep in his own bed. (Our package included 2 memory foam matresses, with bedding for that extra comfort factor). Unsurprisingly he still managed to wiggle his way into our bed come 2am. But hey, why break a habit of a lifetime Em?
The Fun Bit – Food & Drink
Food and drink wise it’s fair to say we weren’t exactly spoilt for choice at COK, but quality over quantity always and the food vendors on offer were 100% top drawer.
Thats Amore Pizza hit the spot on more than one occasion, and Waterloo Cottage Farm had a fantastic Cafe & Bistro serving those much needed breakfast baps, and a tasty evening menu that included BBQ, Curry and Smoked Beef & Hispi Cabbage. The Kambe team are passionate about sustainability, so many of the vendors were local, or Shambalan favourites like the essential Grocery Store.
Another thing you don’t see at your average festival is a food and drink delivery service. That’s right text your order to one of the “carry on” staff and voila! Steaming hot freshly baked pizza straight to your tent. Imagine getting pizza delivered to your tent on a Saturday afternoon at Shambala? Or beers on the sun morning? Oooosh!!!
The Hub
Every campsite needs a place to gather, and at Kelmarsh that place was, “The hub”. The Hub consisted of picnic tables, a communal fire pit (perfect for some marshmallow toasting) and a micro stage complete with hay bail seats. This place was perfect for the elders to wind down after a day of high octane parenting. Likewise, for the kids that just weren’t ready for bed yet, it was the ideal location away from the tents. Everything was nicely distanced, making it easy to stay in our bubbles!
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There was even a smidgen of evening entertainment in the form of a few specially selected local acts like Bev Lee Harding, and percussionist Joelle Barker. After the madness of 2020 it was nice to actually see people enjoying live music out in the open. Some chilled under blankets, whilst other campers danced to the very last tune, fueled by the Notorious Shambala crew bus bar; The Rum Bus! The quiz was great fun, and the plasticine creation round was a big hit!! Although me and Kee aren’t very big drinkers anymore, we treated ourselves to a few cocktails to celebrate our weekend parenting wins! We couldnt resist the Happy Hour Cocktail Deal. Cheers! 🥂
What We Did
Last but not least we have to shout out the activities that were on offer over the weekend at Carry on Kelmarsh. Pretty much what you’d expect from a festival, we had the choice of yoga and DNB workouts from For The Love of Movement. Crafts, and getting back to nature with some woodland walks, SUP Paddle boarding and den building. Our favourite was the plate painting on the Sunday. It was really relaxing and managed to hold Em’s (aka Mr zero focus) attention, it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
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On Saturday campers were granted a little VIP treatment with a guided walk through the normally inaccessible Kelmarsh gardens. We’re garden geeks so this was right up our street. Kee got some beautiful pictures of flowers in full bloom and the gardens gave Em another opportunity to tear around. A few campers managed to forage some plums that had fallen from a tree (which we totally missed). TBH you couldn’t get a more naturally beautiful experience than that if you tried, especially not at your average campsite.
In Kambe We Trust
Call us dramatic but it did actually feel like a once in a lifetime opportunity, a moment in history, and we’re so grateful that we decided to book. We were originally on the fence! Money was tight,and the future uncertain – but trust me when I say it was worth every single penny. Although things seem to be going back to normal in the music and live events sector (thankfully!!), if we were given the chance we would definitely book Carry on Kelmarsh again. It would be perfect as a little summer camping getaway, maybe pre or post festival season.
It was fun, quirky, relaxing and educational, but most of all it was literally as close as you could get to going to a festival as government guidelines would allow! And we were here for it!! The event not only filled a hole in our festival-less summer, but it also helped many small and local businesses get back to doing what they love.
Summer 2021 is shaping up to be a bit more like the Summers that we all know and Love, and the Kambe events team are busy preparing for Shambala (tickets are sold out, but they do offer refunds up to 4 weeks before so keep checking ticket sellers website. DO NOT buy from anyone else!), and hopefully Starry Skies (its billed to go ahead the weekend of 4-8th August but at time of writing we are awaiting the official go ahead on whether it will be happening).
If you want to read more on the Kambe team’s thoughts on their first socially distanced event, then have a read of this.
Thanks for the memories Sid, Kambe and all the Shambala/ Starry Skies team! See you back in a field soon.
Itching to head to a festival in 2021?
You can check out the festivals that Vintents will be attending this year here.
We have also published a guest post over at That Festival Life, on the top 10 family festivals. Which festivals are in your top 10? Did we miss any?
Peace! ✌🏻☮️ – Pete.
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