Bluedot Festival

Bluedot is a truly unique festival taking place at Jodrell Bank, the iconic observatory at the heart of humanity’s quest for discovery.

This experience invites you to explore a stellar programme of music, science, arts, technology, culture and film and discover a festival unlike any other on Earth.

Bluedot’s mission is to entertain and inspire through a series of ground breaking live performances, DJ sets, talks, workshops, experiments, exhibitions and experiences.

Thursday at bluedot 2018

Bluedot have introduced a new, Thursday night ticket for this year's festival. For those who choose to extend their Bluedot festival experience and join in early, an additional Thursday evening ticket with a spectacular headline show will be available for just £29 for weekend campers.

This new addition is due to popular demand and, like many other festivals, allows more options for festival-goers. It also keeps the price of the weekend ticket down for those wishing to attend only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For those wishing to experience just our Thursday event and not the weekend, tickets will be £35. Car parking and campsites will open at 12 noon, with entertainment from 6pm until 11pm. Teen, child and under 5 Thursday tickets are free.

If you're staying in The Colony, Bluedot's boutique campsite, you can join from the Thursday if you have a Thursday ticket and your weekend ticket, and enjoy a free night in your boutique tent.

Please note: If you are not joining on Thursday, and you are a standard weekend ticket-holder, rest assured that you will still be able to find space for camping. There are large camping fields that won't open until Friday, when the majority of festival-goers will be arriving.

*Requires additional Thursday ticket to weekend ticket, subject to license.

Live-in Vehicle

Cars are not permitted in the live in vehicle field, unless towing a caravan.  

Each ticket includes a pitch of 7 x 5 meters. One pass per live in vehicle, not per person. Tents are not permitted in the live in vehicle field. Unsuitable vehicles such as unconverted vans will not be allowed entry to the live in vehicle field and will be redirected to the festival car park where sleeping in vehicles is prohibited. Suitable vehicles are those that have living accommodation with fitted sleeping and either fitted cooking or washing facilities. Motorhomes include camper vans.

Bluedot Festival are proud to have been awarded the Silver level of Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice, demonstrating our commitment to improving the live music experience for our Deaf and disabled customers.

Access applications for bluedot are now open for 2018.

If you have any access requirements to help you enjoy bluedot festival, please complete the Access Application Form HERE.

Downloadable versions are available below:

PDF - HERE

Word - HERE

If you have any urgent matters regarding access, please email access@discoverthebluedot.com.

If you need to send us post, please send us to this address:

Bluedot Access Team
Office 102
19 Lever Street
Manchester
M1 1AN

Bluedot is a four-day festival set in the beautiful Cheshire countryside. We work closely with Attitude is Everything to provide an event site, which is accessible.

Please note: The accessibility facilities are reserved to festival goers with disabilities so unfortunately broken legs, recent injuries, recent operations, elderly and pregnant women do not qualify.

CONTACT DETAILS FOR ALL ACCESS ENQUIRIES

If you would like more information on the access facilities at the event or to get in touch with us please email access@discoverthebluedot.com. We will respond to all enquiries within 5 working days.

To make the application process more streamlined, there is an online access request form on the link above, that you can fill in. You can still download the form and send to us if you prefer. 

ACCESS AROUND THE SITE

The festival is held at Jodrell Bank Observatory which is an existing science facility. The site is divided into three areas. The first area is within existing Jodrell Bank grounds and has hard standing pathways throughout. The second area is the Main area which is a grass field. The Main Arena is generally very flat although the land has some small mounds and dips. The third area is the existing arboretum and gardens that has a hard standing main path but some activity will only be accessed via grass. 

The Accessible Car Park is located within the Accessible Campsite. The ground leading from the Accessible Car Park and Campsite to the Main Arena entrance consists of hard standing pathway. The distance is approximately 800 metres. The Main Arena is approximately 500 metres from the main entrance gate to the furthest perimeter edge.

Please note: The weather conditions can dramatically affect the ground conditions, so wherever possible please try to consider what preparations you may need to make and equipment you may need to bring along.

BOOKABLE ACCESS FACILITIES

The following access facilities need to be pre-booked using the online Access Requirement Form. This form and the required evidence must be submitted to us once you have purchased a ticket.

1) 2 FOR 1 TICKETS FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANTS

We provide a 2:1 ticket scheme for individuals who would be unable to attend our events without bringing a personal assistant. Once you have bought a full price ticket, please fill in the online Access Requirement Form and provide us with a form of evidence as listed on the form in order to receive your personal assistant ticket.

2) VIEWING PLATFORM ACCESS

A viewing platform with a stewarded accessible toilet is located in front of the Main Stage in the Main Arena. In order to gain access to the viewing platform, you need a viewing platform wristband. This also comes with a lanyard that can be worn by a personal assistant or companion so that they can join you on the platform.

3) ACCESSIBLE CAMPING WRISTBAND

On arrival from Friday, there will be an Access Information Point in the accessible campsite where customers can collect further information on access within the festival site. It is also here that additional pre-agreed wristbands can be collected.

The accessible campsite will be separated from general camping. There will be accessible toilets and showers. The accessible campsite will include a covered, 24-hour charging point for power chair batteries. Please assist us with planning by letting us know if you intend to use this service when completing Section 5 of the Access Requirement Form. Customers are free to leave batteries and chairs in this area overnight at their own risk as this service is not stewarded.

Near to the Accessible Campsite there are campsite services (bar, food concessions, first aid and welfare).

Facilities we provide in the accessibility campsite:

• Accessible unisex shower and toilet facilities
• Standard showers and toilets
• Fresh water points
• Waste disposal point
• Electrical points for charging wheelchairs and scooters on a first-come first-served basis

This campsite is available to customers who are unable to camp in the standard campsites or who need access to specialist facilities we provide.

LIVE-IN VEHICLES (Campervans / Caravans)

We have a limited number of accessible live-in vehicle pitches available on a first come first served basis. After you have submitted the accessibility application form (if approved) you will be sent a link to purchase one of these.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING PASS

An Accessible Car Park is located within the Accessible Campsite perimeter. Customers are allowed to park their cars closer to their tent in a designated car park, but not directly next to their tent.

OTHER INFORMATION RELATED TO THE SITE

ACCESSIBLE TOILETS

There will be a stewarded accessible toilet located beside the viewing platform in the Main Arena. A viewing platform wristband is required to gain access to this toilet. There will be other non-stewarded accessible toilets in the Main Arena. There will be accessible toilets within the Accessible Campsite.

ASSISTANCE DOGS

We welcome assistance dogs onto the site. There will be an area provided for toileting and drinking.

STROBE LIGHTING

There will be general warning signs around the Main Arena if strobe lighting will be used. Due to the nature of the artists it is likely that strobe lighting will be used throughout the performances. There will not be a warning immediately before a period of strobe lighting.

MEDICAL SERVICES

There will be a First Aid tent located in the Main Arena and campsite services. There will also be Medics and First Aiders on patrol around the event. Please let us know in advance if you will be wishing to store medication so we can make the appropriate arrangements. If you require more information, please get in touch.

HEARING LOOPS

We have hearing loops on site; these are available at the main entrance box office and the access reception, which is located in the access campsite. 

BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE

We currently do not have this onsite, however it is something we are looking into for 2018, if this is something you would be interested in please do get in touch and let us know.

HOW TO APPLY?

1. Book your festival tickets.
Please note: Live in vehicle (campervan/caravan) and personal assistant tickets can be requested through the access form in step 2.
2. Our applications are open for 2018, you can apply HERE.
3. Your application will be responded to within 10 days.
4. You will receive an information pack sent out to your email address a few weeks before the festival.
*Please note your festival tickets (excluding your personal assistant ticket) will usually arrive mid June – mid July, this is sent direct from your ticket seller and so will not necessarily coincide with receiving the information pack or your personal assistant ticket.
5. You will receive your personal assistant ticket and anything else required by post in advance of the event.

ARRIVAL GUIDE

On arrival to site, please head to the gate as described in the information pack. The information pack provided in advance, send via email and will explain which gate to head to, where to collect your wristband and the location of the access campsite.