Glastonbury is home to worlds within worlds, myriad cultures thrust together in glorious technicolour. It’s sometimes difficult to know where to start when faced with the hundreds of stages and bars; thousands of artists, performers and traders and the sheer scale of the site. We asked The Pop-Up Hotel team and some of our festival-insider friends about the hidden gems tucked away behind secret doors, the easily overlooked corners of the festival and the happenings you really don’t want to miss .
Strummerville
Strummerville nestles in a wooded copse at the top of the hill above the Tipi Village (right next to Pennard Hill Gate), and it’s totally worth the hike. The venue is a fitting tribute to a star (Joe Strummer of course) who had hosted campfires at the festival since the mid ‘90s. It is organised by his friends and family and raises money for good causes. A warm fire surrounded by comfy sofas awaits within the Strummerville woodland. It’s the perfect escape from the crowds of the main arenas, a place to kick back, relax and listen to fabulous live music. If it’s a hot day, the woodland provides a welcome respite (once you’ve got over the hike up the hill that is.) The copse has hosted surprise sets from Fred Again, Olivia Dean and Mumford and Sons to name a few. Keep your ear to the ground, make friends with the lovely crew, and you never know who you might be blown away by.
Naughty Corner During The day
Shangri-La, Bloc9, The Common, The Unfairground… these are the late-late, out-out, party-districts of Glastonbury city. They are officially known collectively as “South East Corner” but to many they will always be “Naughty Corner,” which probably tells you everything you need to know. These spaces get notoriously busy at night, and after dark it’s really ALL about the party. The thing is, they are full of some of the most radical and impressive art to be seen at Glastonbury (and beyond.) It’s often hard to fully appreciate it amid the mayhem so we suggest you head down during the day, when you’ll usually find it blissfully spacious and calm, to take a proper look at the visual and interactive artworks. It used to be that you had to get down early doors before everything got tagged but the festival has done a magnificent job at keeping out the spray cans in recent years and the work remained untouched right through to Sunday last year- long may it continue.
The Bread & Roses
“Yes, it is bread we fight for but we fight for roses too!” Run by The Workers Beer Company in the heart of the festival (it’s also a real-world pub in Clapham), this little bolt-hole has a rich history and is so much more than simply a bar. It has one of the most eclectic, rich and passionately programmed line-ups of any stage out there- not small, but certainly an unexpected gem amid the markets. Music, theatre, comedy & cabaret – you won’t know who is
on stage when you walk in, but will leave as a number 1 fan. You’re welcome.
Newsum Antiques
You might not believe it, but there is a fabulous little…. Antiques Shop, at Glastonbury festival. Tucked away somewhere nearby the Bandstand (usually), we guarantee you’ll find the perfect gilt-framed, antique map of Shropshire to go just perfectly above the demi-lune in your hallway. Fortunately, the helpful proprietor, Mark, is happy to arrange delivery direct to your home at very reasonable rates if you don’t fancy taking your treasures along to watch Neil Young.
The Avalon Inn Balcony
This one isn’t hard to find, and is well worth a stop off. The Avalon Inn is the pub you’ve been looking for in Glasto with good beer, great atmosphere and right next to the Avalon Stage – which is typically a brilliant day-time spot for music lovers. Our specific guidance: get yourself a spot on the timber framed balcony for the views and to get away from it all for a moment.
Glastonbury Free Press
Quite the sight to see: a 7-ton 1957 Heidelberg Press, writers, photographers and a hive of busy bees turning out two newspapers for the festival- one published on Thursday morning and one on Sunday morning. As if that wasn’t impressive enough in itself, there are also artists creating beautiful handmade prints and postcards. We think it’s possibly the most authentic (and reasonably priced) souvenir you can find if you’re looking for something to take home to remember the good times- don’t leave it until Sunday though as the limited editions sell out quickly.
Toad Hall & Small World
These grass roots live music venues are in the Green Futures Field, a stone’s throw from each other and run by the same crew. You could spend hours, if not days, bouncing the few metres between them. This is where you can find that nostalgic Glastonbury moment, the one where you feel no time has really passed since the early days of the festival. Day or night, enter these aged but beautifully cared for tents with an open mind and open heart and enjoy some music, rich storytelling and wonderful people.
The Permaculture garden
Unique to Glasto, and a repeat fixture for more than 20 years now (most of what you will see here remains on site year round); this is one you might not have heard of, but absolutely must see. In the woods near Green Futures, the 1.5 acres space incorporates a forest garden, 22 raised allotment beds, an edible flower garden, a memorial garden and a roundhouse with an edible roof. Amongst the maze-like warren of lush, green pathways lies a vegan cafe serving up food and drinks made mostly from produce grown right there around you. Save this one for when you just need a moment.
The Piano Bar
We can hardly refer to The Piano Bar as a secret, despite the fact it’s not advertised on the programme or even the map: this is the stuff of legend. Dug into the earth, lit by candlelight and completely acoustic, Michael Eavis says that The Underground Piano Bar is his favourite place at the festival. Enough said.
To gain entry to The Piano Bar you’ll need to overcome a number of challenges. Firstly, it’s genuinely tricky to find- even those who have been before can struggle. Here’s a starter for ten: track the hedge line to the East of The Sacred Space and look for an unmarked opening. Beware: rumour has it that it occasionally moves location (although no-one we know can remember that actually happening.) Secondly, long queues build up even before the headliners finish, and because of the entrance rituals (more on that later) and the limited capacity, they take a long time to go down. Once you are in the queue there’s definitely no popping off for the loo or the bar so come prepared with an empty bladder and a full pint (or two.) Exact opening times are hard to pin down (and unpublished) but it’s a certainly nocturnal venue and often opens only on Friday onwards. Thirdly, be prepared to be required to engage in ‘interesting’ rituals once you reach the front of the queue. It’s all part of the fun and we’ve never heard of anyone being refused entry, but it’s rare to be allowed to ‘walk right in,’ and it’s common to hear tales of very strange goings-on indeed. If this all sounds a bit too much like hard work, take heart from the fact you’ll be met by an atmosphere unlike any other on earth: the stuff lifelong memories are made of.
NB: if you are claustrophobic give this one a miss.
Denela’s Garden Bakery
Denela’s is Glastonbury’s very own local independent bakery. Their bread and butter (ahem!) is a popular neighbourhood bakery in Shepton Mallet, but for the last six years they’ve also been popping up in the festival. Here you’ll find hearty bacon butties alongside pasties, sandwiches, iced buns, brownies and even birthday cakes (complete with hand iced messages). There is something incredibly comforting about a trip to Denela’s that we can’t quite put our finger on. Maybe it’s the no-nonsense, no-frills (but very tasty) approach. It’s the perfect place for a quick pit stop.
Ancient Futures
If you are a fan of a very intimate live music experience it is well worth sticking your head in here. Set in an atmospheric yurt at the bottom of The Tipi Field, this is a small but perfectly formed venue and hosts some excellent parties of an evening. What it lacks in scale and technical flourishes, it makes up for in pure vibes. What’s more, it’s attached to a cafe which serves (arguably) the best chai on site.
The Wood
The Wood is quite a new area but it’s really very good. Located near Woodsies (go figure?!) it’s the perfect place to find some shade during the day and a wonderful huge bonfire from midnight. There’s also a spot of high culture on offer in the form of The Shakespeare Stage.
Sunflower Sound System
This is one for the audiophiles. Floating Points is bringing six stacks of his Sunflower Sound System to Glastonbury for the first time. Billed as a ‘surround sound dome tent,’if the rumours are to be believed this is bound to become one of the hottest spots for electronic music in the festival pretty quickly- so we recommend getting down to check it out early doors. The striking stacks have been meticulously engineered and built in the UK to both look and sound delicious. You’re welcome.
