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The Isle of Wight Festival

Written by Lucy Whelan

Imagine you’re raving it up at The Isle of Wight Festival watching The Prodigy perform live on the Main Stage, soaking up all that there is to be soaked – rain water included – safe in the knowledge that you don’t have to sleep (or not sleep) in a tiny, soggy, cold tent… you can grab a cab and head to an actual HOUSE!!! Fresh sheets, soft pillows and a good mattress – not a blow up one. No carry mats, sleeping bags or a dreaded portaloos in sight!

Have you ever considered being able to go to a festival and then wake up by THE SEA and then jump headfirst into it to clear your head?! You are also equipped with a reliable little black book of taxi numbers, places to have breakfast, secluded places to have a reviving swim and other restaurant / activities ideas! Well here you are!

Lucy Whelan of Lucy Whelan Vintage has compiled the ultimate guide to this year Isle of Wight Festival please see the lineup and Showtimes in the gallery.

Lucy is here to help you do that.

Speaking from experience it was the one thing that kept me going through that evening in 2015…ten years ago this year! Crikey. The rain was pouring down and we got completely drenched but were safe in the knowledge that we could go back and get warm and have a good night’s sleep to prepare us for the next day’s festivities.

I can’t tell you how grateful we were to have the number of a trusted taxi driver on my phone (number included in this blog) so as to meet him and be swept back to the comfort and warmth of the place where we were staying.

The festival has something for everyone. All the family and friends and friends of friends can go and have a brilliant time in one way or another.

There is a huge range of markets stalls with independent sellers, vintage, things made on the isle of wight, some of the sellers support charities on the island to help this place continue to be a melting pot of weird and wonderful curiosities.

So, what is it about the Isle of Wight festival that’s so special? Why does it attract people from all over the country and all over the world???

The music of course – but it’s the destination…and the history…

It has legendary roots from the late 1960s – the last one in 1970 where Jonie Mitchell and Jimi played was twice the size of Woodstock – completely terrifying and awesome at the same time. Completely out of control. The post office in Bembridge was apparently selling large parcel bags as sleeping bags for people…according to a reliable source you could fit two people in them, singles five shillings, doubles seven shillings & six pence.

Artists included Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie,

and many many more!

Its revival in the early 2000s was welcomed and highly attended doubling in numbers ever since. Last year’s festival was the best yet and over something thousand people attended. It marks the start of festival season for a lot of musicians and festival goers and is now televised like Glastonbury – a key date on the UK festival calendar

What to Expect This Year

Isle-of-Wight-Festival-2025-lineup-poster-as-of-3-April

If you are looking for a lively yet relaxing festival

experience, blending music with the slower pace of coastal life, this is the one for you!

I can’t tell you how refreshed I felt after a swim with my friends. We then went back the house, showered and got ready listening to the music of the acts that were going to be performing later that day and night to get us in the mood. We then ordered our taxi and were off! From Seaview or Bembridge it’s 20-30 minutes max.

You’re then dropped at the very easy drop-off point, there is rarely a delay as they keep the traffic moving and have perfected the flow of cars down a one-way system – but enough of boring travel logistics chat…

What happens when you’re there?! They’ve got 12 stages, fairground rides, circus tents, charging points for your phones (yamnn), champagne tents, VIP, children’s activities, they also have a fancy-dress theme!

The theme for 2025 is NEON JUNGLE encouraging attendees to embrace bright colours and fluorescent attire.

The festival will also host a costume competition on Saturday, June 21st, at Cirque de la Quirk, judged by Miss Molly McQueen.

On Instagram tag us @curatedspaces and your photos at #IOW2025

BEMBRIDGE TIPS:

Places for a great breakfast / brunch and lunch:

Number 8 Cafe above The Farm Shop – Divine and cosy and a real treat – plus a great shop to boot to pick up pressies for mainlanders.

Bembridge “Hotbox” Bakery (closes at 2pm. Closed on Mondays) their Almond Pain aux Chocolate is TO DIE FOR and will keep you going / get you going…

Harbour View – great bacon sarnies and view…maybe a bit smelly at low tide

The Best Dressed Crab – great seafood on a boat… same applies re tide times…

You will find live tide information inside your digital guide, sent out after booking at any of Curated Spaces properties.

Pubs:

The Crab & Lobster – awesome views. Bit spenny but worth it.

The Propeller Inn – Closed Mondays but delicious Sunday Roasts and you can watch the planes take off from Bembridge Airport – ask for Rick or Roxy and say Lucy sent you 😉

The Pilot Boat Inn – great beers and a pool table – v near the beach

SEAVIEW:

Places for a great breakfast / brunch and lunch:

Lily’s Coffee Shop – Their coffee is UNBEATABLE…highly recommend. Say Lucy from the Vintage Shop sent you…the chocolate brownies are to die for. (The Vintage Shop is underneath Lily’s btw!)