At Big Love Festival we pride ourselves on being friendly and inclusive, so naturally we want anyone who loves good music and having fun to feel welcome at our festival. A disability certainly shouldn’t be a barrier to having a great time!
Any information below is accurate though – last updated 28th June 2023.
On this page
- Introduction
- Help buying tickets
- Personal Assistant / Carer tickets
- Viewing areas
- Seating
- Toilets and showers
- Assistance dogs
- Medication storage
- Strobe lighting
- Festival site layout and facilities
Introduction
If you are coming to Big Love Festival and have any specific requirements or concerns, please feel free email access@biglovefestival.co.uk to discuss how we can help make your time at the festival as enjoyable and as hassle-free as possible.
If you would prefer to speak to someone on the phone, please let us know.
Any details of your disability or requirements that you choose to share with us will be treated with the strictest confidence and respect.
We’re a friendly bunch and small enough to be flexible, and we’d love to meet you at Big Love!
Help buying tickets
If you have any difficulty buying tickets, you can contact us by email at access@biglovefestival.co.uk.
Personal Assistant tickets
Personal Assistants are admitted free of charge. Please purchase a ticket for yourself, and then email us access@biglovefestival.co.uk to request a free ticket if you require one for a Personal Assistant.
We may request proof of eligibility with one of the following documents:
- Front page of DLA / PIP (no specific rate)
- Front page of Attendance Allowance letter (no specific rate)
- Evidence that registered severely sight impaired (blind)
- Recognised Assistance Dog ID card
- Credability’s Access Card
This is to ensure facilities for guests with disabilities and their personal assistants are not abused by others. We will review any applications without the recommended evidence sympathetically on a case-by-case basis.
Toilets
There will be accessible toilets equipped for wheelchair users in several locations on site, including next to the camping and food vendors. Accessible toilets will be locked with RADAR locks.
Most toilets on site will be composting toilets, which may require access via a few steps.
Showers
We are hoping to offer fully accessible showers, but it is important to note that we are struggling to source dedicated, fully accessible shower units. We will provide guests with at least one step-free shower stall that can accommodate a wheelchair user and carer. We want all attendees to be able to freshen up thoroughly and with dignity.
If you have any questions or concerns, or would prefer a full refund, please let us know: access@biglovefestival.co.uk.
Assistance dogs
If you need to bring an assistance dog with you, please contact us in advance so we can arrange water and toilet facilities for it.
Viewing areas
We do not have specific viewing areas for disabled guests, as to be honest we’re not that big and there is normally plenty of space to enjoy the performances with views of the stages.
Seating
If standing for long periods is difficult and you require a seat at any of the different stages, please let us know in advance so we can reserve seats for you.
Medication storage
If you need us to provide secure or refrigerated storage for prescription medications, please contact us in advance and we will be glad to help if we can.
Strobe lighting
There will be strobe lighting at the festival, possibly at all the stages, so if you are affected by seizures, we’re afraid we must advise you not to attend.
Festival site layout and facilities
The festival takes places in several fields and woods on what is normally farmland.
We can’t guarantee the fields are suitable ground for all wheelchair users or mobility-impaired guests, but the site has been used for livestock grazing and not ploughed, and the grass will be freshly cut.
Rough tracks link the main areas of the site, and in the event of heavy rain, wood chips will be used to prevent busy areas getting too muddy. The entire site is step-free.
Camping areas
Accessible camping area
We have a small dedicated accessible camping area which is slightly flatter than the main campsite.
We recognise that guests with disabilities will often want to camp with their friends, so we’re happy to allow up to two friends’ tents to camp alongside any guests with disabilities in this area.
General camping
The main campsite is located about 200 metres from the car park, and about 100 metres from the main stages and areas. The campsites are fields not lawns, so they can be pretty bumpy and uneven in places, but the grass will be freshly cut.
Boutique camping
If you would like to camp, but feel unable to transport and pitch a tent, then maybe our boutique camping is the answer. You can arrive, park in the accessible parking area and have one of our stewards help carry your things to a bell tent that’s already set up for you.
Most camping things you need will be waiting for you inside – choose from an airbed with bedding, to a metal frame bed with memory foam mattress. Plus lights, rugs, towels, duvets and lots of other creature comforts!
Campervans
If you are attending in a camper van, you will need to park in the separate campervan field unless we have arranged otherwise. This is around 100 metres from the main stage.
Stages and performance areas
We’re still working out the exact details of stages and other main areas. Most stages will be in fields, so they can be a little bumpy and uneven in places, but the grass will be freshly cut. The new woodland disco should now be wheelchair accessible. Please check back near the end of May for more details.
Parking
The main car park is in a large grass field, on a bit of a slope.
If you choose to park here, you will likely be a maximum of 250 metres away from the main campsite. Obviously the earlier you arrive, the closer to the campsites you will be able to park.
Again we can’t guarantee the main car park is suitable for wheelchair users or mobility impaired guests as it’s a field not a lawn, but the grass will be freshly mown.
However, if you have mobility issues, please contact us in advance and we will arrange for a pass for you to park in the separate accessible parking area nearer to the main areas.
Wherever you choose to park, please let us know if you would like assistance carrying your kit from your car to the campsite. We will happily arrange for a steward to help you.