66 replies to this topic

[MiniSal]

I feel quite mean now !!! I was just trying to say that although the facilities were not bad, we've had worse at Mini events. I also go to the Great Dorset Steam Fair and that's all turdices and no running water on site, so you can imagine how awful that gets !

[ppopsie]

Just the two of us went this year as the children have deserted us. We had a jolly good time, and I for one think SMOC do a fantastic job - for 20 quid you can't expect much more. I think I would be happy to pay £25 though to improve the toilet situation. We got a bit grumpy pitching the tent in the rain on Friday, but at least we missed all the traffic grief. We went for a meal and a pint of Harveys at the Brown Trout which was very nice. We missed most of the evening event as a result, but hey ho. We saw the Fab Boogie Band - they are aalways good value. On Saturday we went to the Swan and again missed most of the eveing activities.
I have to say that with the inevitable move from the Hop Farm the show overall feels a lot smaller, and the room used in the evening is cramped. The toilets at events are always horrid, and I don't think these were any more horrid than usual. At least you can use the proper ones in the main bulding as well as the portables.
We managed to pack the tent in the dry and enjoyed a lazy Sunday. We met lots of nice chatty people along with a few old friends. I was impressed with the Belgian stand, but where are the great club stands of past years? - like the Dave's medieval castle??
Anyhow, well done SMOC, I am sure we will be there again in 2011 if I am spared.

[Brams96]

I enjoyed the event overall.

The weather is always an issue but no-one can predict that so you have to just take it as it comes. It's just part of camping.

The toilets were better than last year and they had more of them. We didn't use the showers (baby wipes are good) but saw them being cleaned a couple of times so they were trying to keep on top of things.

Moving the arena nearer to the main building instead of the lower paddock was a good idea as it allowed a better concentration of the stands, although there weren't as many as last year. This did however give the impression of less people as everyone was more spread out and day visitors didn't get the chance to walk through and see all the campers cars.

My only gripe was the evening entertainment. Friday nights band was good but they shut the bar at 1130 without any warrning or 'last call' for drinks. Saturdays DJ was (ahem) S H 1 T! Stopping songs halfway through, rubbish mixing and dodgy song choices! I really hope they get someone decent next year. If they hire someone decent then I think people would enjoy themselves more as we saw people leaving because of the music. Also they have a monopoly on the drinks so why do they have to charge London prices (£6 per double shot)? If they lowered it a bit then people would buy more.

But thats just my 2p worth.

[samsfern]

yeah, im not gonna pay 3 or 4 pound for a pint, when ive got a load of cans in the car. We wondered down on friday night with a few cans of carling, they confiscated them from us with no warning, lucky they didnt see the other two i had in my pocket, lol, i cracked open another and hid it down my feet, genius!

Another thing that kind of got to me and the others i camped with was that we asked for the noisy field, and had security telling us to turn our music off at like half 10! And our field was dead, other than some cocks next to us with a sub, and a very rattly mini, and no taste of music. Hasnt put me off of going next year.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

yeah, im not gonna pay 3 or 4 pound for a pint, when ive got a load of cans in the car. We wondered down on friday night with a few cans of carling, they confiscated them from us with no warning, lucky they didnt see the other two i had in my pocket, lol, i cracked open another and hid it down my feet, genius!

Another thing that kind of got to me and the others i camped with was that we asked for the noisy field, and had security telling us to turn our music off at like half 10! And our field was dead, other than some cocks next to us with a sub, and a very rattly mini, and no taste of music. Hasnt put me off of going next year.

In all fairness we stayed up until, wait... You and Ben didnt even go to bed LOL! But we were up until gone 5 making a right old racket. I genuinly thought you was gonna punch somebody when your car got covered in wax and you started polishing it 4am in the rain good times

[samsfern]

josh and ben stayed up all night, i went to bed, or kinda collapsed in my tent, woke up and it had been taken down with me still in it, lol, now i look back it was pretty funny, i was just making it worse, lol, nothing a bunch of poloish dudes at a carwash couldnt sort out, lol, good times, cant wait till mitp though, you going craig?

I think most of the noise was us stumbling around rthe pikey site kicking the pots and pans and empty cans everywhere, lmao! Shame i didnt get a better pic of the site, for a new avatar, lol

Edited by samsernie, 10 August 2010 - 03:14 PM.

[Hannioli]

I enjoyed SMD but it was more about the people I was with than the actual show.

The weather and ridiculous traffic on Friday, neither could be helped though!

I think the no noise policy after 11pm is a bit ridiculous to be honest, we were told to shut up at 10pm one night If they want to keep things quite for families / people who want to sleep early, why not set up family only camping and quiet camping areas and then have the other camping areas? It wouldn't be hard and it would make a hell of a lot more sense.

For those that do stay up late getting drunk and loud, they don't need to worry about being quiet and the quiet campers don't have to get all angry at them. Then the same applis in the mornings but reversed!

Showers and toilets this year were worse than last year... what happened to the water?!? No water to flush or wash hands with Sun morning and then a freezing cold shower that went hot a couple of times

The trade stands were a bit poo this year too, lack of them and some strange ones

One other gripe is the lack of tissue in the toilets in the bar building.

I don't know about the prices of the drinks at the bar but jesus £6 for a double shot?! Really? That's more expensive than standard London prices!

Anywho, like I said the weekend was more about the people for me than the actual show

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I enjoyed SMD but it was more about the people I was with than the actual show.

What you said. Was great to catch up with yourself, Bambi, Neil, Roo! Everybody. All of our good friends and a whole weekend together. Who cares about the entertainment and camping, it was bloody good fun

[tadleysimon]

other than some cocks next to us with a sub, and a very rattly mini, and no taste of music. Hasnt put me off of going next year.

that sounds like it might have been us, because we had some cocks next to us that where mostly silent, it was like someone had died over there!

but seriously, i go to a few vw shows and the music is always much louder and if the music is not to your taste, that just means you havent drunk enough!

Edited by tadleysimon, 10 August 2010 - 05:08 PM.

[samsfern]

it wasnt you dude. It wouldnt have been so bad, if they played some decent music, not the chavtastic crap they were, the sub sounded pretty crap as the mini was so rattly

[tadleysimon]

you sure it wernt us? where you on the tmf camp, we where right arcoss the road lol

[samsfern]

wel unless you have bright orange shoes, and got laughed at by me when you asked for a screwdriver to fix your "cold air feed", it defo werent you. We were far from quiet anyway, dragging craig round the field in his tent at like 3am sunday, lol

Edited by samsernie, 10 August 2010 - 05:17 PM.

[tadleysimon]

orange shoes lol mental,

nah it wernt us

i use the forum alot but ive never been over to say hi in person, i guess i think noone would have a clue who i am lol. i might make the effort next time...

[samsfern]

id have popped over and said hi if id seen you, we had a few people from tmf saying hi to us.

[ricky_mini]

i didnt even see a tmf camping bit, not sure how i missed that!