Do we all bring our own tents and we're in a designated area, have I got this right?.
Crew camping at Latitude
- 3K Views
- Last Post 27 June 2014
Mark
posted this
27 June 2014
- Last edited 13 November 2023
Yes that's right.
There will be loads of info in the 2014 Latitude Festival Hotbox Events Info Pack that we'll be uploading next week (Wed 2nd July).
Alex the Bearded Ginge
posted this
02 June 2015
Just read that survival guide but I have some specifics to ask about Latitude 2015 that those with experience of volunteering there previously will hopefully be able to help with.
The guide says:
\"Small camping stove and pans to cook in. Remember that gas canisters are banned at many festivals. It's worth checking first although most allow disposable barbecues, meth stoves, Trangia stoves, solid fuel stoves, gel stoves, Greenheat Base Camp Stoves and firelighter stoves.\"
I'd wanted to ask about the staff canteen as I was hoping to not need to bring our little camping stove set-up, but reading the above it looks like I might not be allowed to bring it anyway, as it's a gas canister one.
How good is the canteen?
Prices? Is it discounted for vollies or overpriced like most festivals?
Menu? Simple, hearty fare or poncy tofu nonsense?
Quality? Cheap & cheerful or cheap & nasty? Or expensive but worth it or ridiculous for what you're getting?
How much money would cover a week's worth of dining there (starting from the Tues eve)? Is that even logistically possible (say if you're on the night shift and it's shut)?
Or do I need to look into some different solutions...?
Thanks in advance for anyone able to shed any light/offer any suggestions/experiences... :)
NRJames
posted this
03 June 2015
Camping in the 'staff' area tends to be a little more relaxed than camping inside the festival. The Hotbox area is gated and monitored by Hotbox staff and volunteers who use a common-sense approach when it comes to rules. I don't think anyone would confiscate your camping stove from you unless you were somehow causing a hazard to yourself or others.
The staff canteen situation seems to change year on year. Last year I wasn't impressed but apparently it was better than it had been. There is a staff 'snack shack' that serves hot and cold snacks, drinks, and ice creams throughout the day at reasonable prices. The staff canteen opens for 3 meals a day at set times. Discount meal vouchers can be purchased from the Hotbox office onsite. I think they were £5 each - which is cheaper than you'll eat anywhere inside the festival.
The food is typical canteen food. It's edible. It serves a purpose. You get what they're serving or you can opt for the Veggie option. Last year there was a very long wait at peak times, so it's best to try and schedule yourself to beat the crowd. There was also an issue with them running out of food and having to throw together an alternative. Hopefully they are wiser this year.
Personally, I eat the canteen fry-up in the morning, bring 'camping' food and snacks to keep me going through the day, and treat myself to one of the many food vendors in the evening - or whatever the shift patterns dictate. Keep in mind that while you're working you won't have time to go back to the canteen mid-shift so you'll need to pack a meal or eat festival food.
The food vendors at Latitude are usually VERY good, and they are capped at how much they can charge, so although it's not cheap, it's not extortionate. £7-£10 will get you a nice hearty evening meal.
Alex the Bearded Ginge
posted this
03 June 2015
Cheers James, you've answered a lot of questions there with decent detail - top man, yet again! Lot of info there for me to work out a battle plan...
From the sounds of it though, they're still finding their feet with the staff canteen set-up - I would've thought they'd have it perfected by now with 9 years experience behind them (plus all the other festivals elsewhere pre-Lat)!
Yeah I was hoping that'd be the case with my gas stove; ie. the guide info was more aimed at general festival goers and they'd trust volly staff to behave and not blow-up the campsite!
But yeah a mix of food solutions to get through the day, esp depending on peak queues & shift patterns, seems to be the smart move...
Cheers again [8D]
jojo
posted this
04 June 2015
You should be alright with your stove, it's just Reading they're pretty strict with it because of where the crew area is.
If it's the same catering company this year as was there last year then they're pretty decent compared to the old lot. The old lot you could go in pretty much any time of the day so wasn't ever much of a queue and had a choice of meal, but the food and portions were abysmal. The new lot hadn't really figured out how to manage so many people and were short staffed so there were queues and shortages but the quality and portion of the food was miles better.
If you want the discounted vouchers from Hotbox then the money comes off your deposit instead of them taking cash. You can pay with cash at the canteen but it will be at a slightly higher rate.
Mark
posted this
04 June 2015
It'll be the same catering company (Gusto) at Latitude, Reading and Leeds this year. They've been working with events for a long time but they were new to us last year which is the main reason they were still finding their feet. There have been endless meetings, emails and calls with and about them following some 'teething problems' in 2014 so fingers crossed for a top notch (okay, festival notch) crew cafe in 2015.
You can bring gas canisters for stoves into the Latitude and Leeds crew areas but not Reading, as Jo has said it's in view of the public camping at Reading which is why it's banned there.
We haven't confirmed if we'll be doing the discounted vouchers from the Hotbox offices again in 2015, if we can we will but better to plan for £5 ish per meal using cash at the cafe just in case.
Alex the Bearded Ginge
posted this
05 June 2015
Thanks for the further detail JoJo & Mark.
Good to get confirmation; my little Campingaz Bleuet is a veteran of many a camping holiday and couldn't be simpler with it's idiot proof resealable cartridges, so I'm glad to hear I need to stock up on powdered milk for my cuppas!
Thanks for explaining the discount vouchers too; my deposit was pinched from a savings account that was funding a large purchase and I could only justify the temporary outlay on the proviso that it all went back in come the end of the festy season, so yes, cash will be the way forward there.
Understood about the catering company issues too.
Stacey90
posted this
26 June 2015
Hi, My sister and I are volunteering at Latitude and were hoping to be able to park our van in the camping area next to our tent if that is at all possible?? We are sharing a tent and were hoping to keep most things in the van so we had more space. Would be great to find out if this is possible.
Thanks
Mark
posted this
27 June 2015
Unfortunately we can't allow any vehicles into the camping areas due to fire regulations.
Alex the Bearded Ginge
posted this
12 July 2015
Quick Q about drinking water: is there a free supply for the staff/volly camping area? How good/reliable is it for regular usage/how safe is the quality? I've got all my food & drink sorted but I'm bringing empty water bottles to fill up on site (to save on weight when travelling); I've had festival camping exp of it all being fine & dandy but also a nightmare festival where my missus & I used the free drinking water to top up bottles rather than queue for hours at the expensive bars only to both pick up horrendous food poisoning which made the dash back to the hotel afterwards (it was a one-dayer @Hyde Park) rather desperate, the night's 'sleep' hellish and the drive back home a delicate mission of mind-over-matter & grotty service-station toilets.
Lex
posted this
13 July 2015
Hi all - will there be any access to powerpoints for phone charging? Although I have a couple of portable chargers, I really doubt my iPhone will last the whole week there - and as I'll be on my own (and haven't sorted out getting home yet!) it'll be quite important for me to have it on me.
Any info appreciated, thanks!
Alex the Bearded Ginge
posted this
14 July 2015
- Last edited 13 November 2023
Yes, I forgot to ask this one too (though I'm all packed, about to go to bed and off in the morning, so it's too late to read any replies). I can't spot any mention of any recharging points on the map* they posted on their FB page today, though there is a free wifi zone, so it's possible. I've got a Freeloader with multiple attachments that I've been charging in my south facing bedroom window the last week, but unfortunately I don't have the right micro USB plug for my phone (but can use it for my mp3 player and other stuff). I've now got my 3-pin plug in front of me and will stuff this in my bag just in case we can plug in at Hotbox HQ or something. But my phone is pretty good for charge, has had a full top-up this evening and the battery lasts a full week (well, that's been the case the last few weeks of using it)...
Lex
posted this
14 July 2015
So I'm now arriving on Wednesday morning due to a change of work plans. The info I had before said to arrive at the Yellow Gate, but I can't see a Yellow gate on the newly released site map.
Does anyone know where we should be headed?
AftonMills
posted this
14 July 2015
Does anyone know how far the staff car park is from the staff camp site? Looking at the weather for tomorrow it looks wet, and I dont fancy carrying all my bags in one go to the campsite if its a long walk!
Alex the Bearded Ginge
posted this
14 July 2015
Lex - I'm guessing that one man's yellow (gate) is another man's orange, so come in off the A145 at the top right of the map.
Afton - yeah I'd seen the predicted thunderstorms for tomorrow too (though checking again this morning they don't look as severe as before); I'd imagine a few trips with a lighter load would be advisable - just bring the tent first trip, get it up then do a few runs with all your gear so that it can go straight inside the tent and not get soaked whilst you put it up. Also means you're less likely to bugger over in any mud trying to take all your gear in one go!
AftonMills
posted this
14 July 2015
Yeah, that was my thinking too about taking the tent first! The weather looks like it's meant to be nice the rest of the weekend so hopefully get the showers out if the way tomorrow ! Aahh some people might be there by now, exciting!
