As music fans sizzled in the sunshine at Seaclose, imagine what it was like for the myriad of chefs slaving away in the kitchens, catering for some 2,000 onsite workers, including 1,000 security personnel.
Caterers ‘Eat To The Beat’, organised by Lyn Pierce, provided meals all day for some 2,000 support staff at the peak of their operation. Their food offerings included Isle of Wight meat, Isle of Wight cheese and Wight Crystal mineral water.
Eat To The Beat also provided the riders for the performers’ dressing rooms and the production teams. Riders are an interesting feature, with spirits, wines and energy drinks in great demand. Another interesting request is for flowers in their dressing rooms.
A lot of the catering and hospitality staff will now relocate to Glastonbury.
In the Guest Village, Isle of Wight firms were well represented with Calbourne Classics, founded in 1989, showcasing their range of cakes and flapjacks, plus Minghella Artisan ice creams.
Godshill Orchards displayed some of their 17 varieties of cherries, plus jams, preserves and honey produced by the bees, which pollinate their fruit trees.
Richard Hodgson started Isle of Wight Cheese in 2006 and has been present at the Festival since 2008. This year, 4 cheeses were on offer, including the popular Isle of Wight Blue. Isle of Wight Tomatoes also had a selection of their fruit in various colours and sizes, plus cucumbers and peppers on display.
Isle of Wight Distillery had their range of spirits available alongside Goddards Brewery with South Island Pale Ale and 2 lagers. Mermaid Gin is placed in every dressing room for artists to enjoy or take away.
Wight Whisky attracted interest from visitors from off the Island, particularly with their single malt, while The Really Awesome Coffee Company from East Cowes was a popular stop off with long queues at times.
An art installation, once housed at Freshwater’s Dimbola, was on display in the Guest Village and proved popular with visiting artists as it depicts the hands of those who have played at previous Festivals.
And of course, volunteers from Mountbatten were out in force selling sunflowers and umbrellas/sunshades for the charity – another nice local touch.
