Wannasee Festivals - Chester-le-Street

Julie Underwood

Just been to the Penrith festival due to weather forecast last week we thought a party of 6 would upgrade to the VIP area which sounded fab. Heated area, fire pits, seating, tables, live music, phone socket, toilets, bar area.
Bar area was there but nothing else, not enough seats and I mean about 200 people to 50 seats, 5 tables, toilets never worked from day one, no paper towels, no water and an attendant who spent the whole time in her phone. No heating no fire pits, no live bands, in fact the tent was that far away from the stage you couldn’t hear the bands on stage. Also tent right next to fair ground area!!! The noise from the rides was terrible.
Speaking to people who were also complaining no where to sit, toilets very bad!! They said they were in camping VIP but because nothing was given as promised staff were upgrading them to the VIP area, which had a knock in effect area to small fit amount of people. Another lady had 2 children with her, she wouldn’t let them use to public toilets due to them being disgusting, when she complained she was offered pay £40 and you can have VIP wrist band - which she did but thought these toilets were not much better.
Greeting into the festival was another issue queue to long no enough staff - was just ridiculous.
We did enjoy the bands but organisation very poor and taking extra money for tickets and not delivering was one star.

Hamish McDougall

Unfortunately this will be our last year of attending the Wannasee Penrith Festival. From start to finish it was an absolute shambles. We arrived at 5:30pm on Thursday night and were left parked up in the day car parking field until 10:30pm and then had to pitch tents and get set up in the dark. 22 of us (friends and family) had booked the VIP Camp Site, there wasn't one! We were scattered across the whole site and were told we couldn't pitch our children's tent beside our camper van, eventually the security guards relented and let us pitch it behind the van. This needs to be made clearer on the website that tents cannot be in the same field as a live in vehicle as lots of families were in the same position as us. We were promised, according to the website, a secure camp site with 24 hour security, luxury flushing toilets and shower blocks manned 24 hours a day, fire pits, a festival village, a DJ and exclusive entrance to the arena, none of which materialised. There were toilet and shower 'caravans' for the Glamping Tents but these were a 10 minute walk from where some of our party were put to camp. It took the organisers 10 working days to get back to us when we complained and have since been offered a 50% refund of the extra cost of the VIP Camping pass even though 100% of what we were promised wasn't there. Unbelievably the toilets that were there were even worse than last year, so much for taking on board peoples comments. (Attached picture taken on the first morning) The bands as ever were fantastic and its a real shame that the organisers are letting down these hard working artists, if I were them I wouldn't to be associated with these festival organisers.

Lucy Charters

Disappointing , were there no toilets available to rent or is this one of the costs yous have cut, along with cleaning the ones that were provided Disgusting, you’ll be lucky if anyone returns. No boards in place on the ground so all vehicles were getting stuck in the mud, I know cost of living and all but if you’re gonna run an event you still have to run it right or not at all

Colin Mather

Very poor stewarding and traffic management. 3 hours drive from Penrith to venue on the Friday. Toilet facilities dreadful. Behaviour on camp site disgraceful and unchecked. It is a great shame that the excellent music was spoiled by lack of management. Let's not forget we pay for a service which was not delivered.

Kath Hunter

Nothing like last year . Hardly any Facilities what there was wasn’t cleaned enough.thankfully all Security guards weren’t all the same. 2 in particular we’re just out to cause trouble properly just on a power trip . One minute saying they were trying to protect our kids then waving cigarettes in there faces screaming at them and taking there wristbands off them and throwing them out. Thankfully nothing happened to mine . The acts , food places , bars and stalls were fantastic . Unless security changes next year don’t think I’ll be back . Was at Kendal calling this year and the security were brilliant with everyone.

Adam Bentley

Been the last two years and loved it.

We won't be coming again though, how on earth have you taken a pretty slick and efficient operation and turned it into this shambles?!

Hours and hours of queues just to get to the campsite.

If you value your time and don't want to spend several hours of your life sat in a stationary vehicle for seemingly no other reason than blatant understaffing and laughably poor planning then give wannasee a miss, we will be in future.

Jane McDougall

Just spent another amazing weekend at Wannasee Penrith with family and friends. New Purple Celebration (Prince tribute) and Live Wire (AC/DC tribute) being the absolute stars of the show once again. Sad to say that we are seriously considering if we will book next year or not though due to the toilet situation. This is the 5th time we have attended and couldn't believe how many less loo's there were both in the arena and camping areas considering the capacity was supposedly increased for this year. No hand washing facilities whatsoever with the loo's in the camp sites, only hand sanitiser at those loo's in the actual arena and at the entrance gates which were empty by around 3pm each day. Totally appreciate its been a busy weekend for festivals and portaloo's may have been in short supply nationally but come on Wannasee Organisers, you do such a great job don't let something as basic as a loo stop people attending.

Debbie Nicholson

No organisation what's so ever. Totally carnage.
Lack of toilets and what there was were never cleaned. No hand washing facilities or hand sanitizer.
Lack of showers or running water.
Definitely won't be returning next year