SingFest Info & FAQs

Date & Time
Friday 4th September 14:00 - Sunday 6th September 16:00

Address
Bentley Copse, Hound House Rd, Shere, Guildford GU5 9JH

Tickets

Please note the booking conditions for all our events including our cancellation policy.

Download this information as a PDF.

Getting to SingFest

By car is the easiest. However there are public transport options, and we have regular attendees who make it by train, bus and walking. Catch a train to Guildford, then catch a no. 25 bus from Friary bus station to Peaslake memorial, then a 50 minute walk - click on Google Maps for the whole route.

Alternatively, head to our Singfest facebook page and post for lift share options.

Arrival

Arrival and registration is from 3pm on the Friday and 9am on Saturday and Sunday. You’ll be greeted by a steward in a hi-viz jacket. Follow their instructions to park and / or set up camp. Workshops start at 4pm on the Friday and 10am on Saturday and Sunday.

Camping

You can bring your own tent or campervan or stay in single sex dorms, (please note no bedding is provided in the dorms only mattresses). There are plentiful toilets and hot showers on site.

Children at Singfest

Children (under 18s) are free at Singfest but you do need to register that they are coming. If they are to join the singing workshops book them an Under 18 (free) ticket. If you would like them to attend KidsFest (for free) again book a kidsfest ticket. All these can be found on our tickets page.

KidsFest

KidsFest is fun! You will be with our qualified and DBS checked KidsFest tutors. There’ll be singing and playing music, arts and crafts, plus great things like go-karting and climbing. Although your parents or carers are responsible for you at all times, you get to spend loads of time with other children at Kidsfest whilst the adults go off to do their singing.

The singing workshops

SingFest is organised so that you sing with all of our tutors. Some workshops will be taught in smaller groups by a single tutor (Lucky Moyo and Rosie Sleightholme) and some will be with all Singfest participants led by Anna Tabbush & Dom Stichbury or Nancy Kerr & James Fagan.

Don’t forget to invite friends and family to the final, informal performance at 3pm on the Sunday.

Other workshops and events

In our Drumming and Ukulele workshops instruments are provided but you can of course bring your own.

The open mic session is hosted by Marco Frankland. You chance to shine! Sing a solo or in a small ensemble, play an instrument, tell a joke, read a poem. Anything goes

Our ceilidh is a scratch band hosted by professional ceilidh musicians so bring an instrument if you’d like to join in

Yoga - a lovely way to warm into each morning. Bring a mat and some water with you.

Food

We host a fabulous BBQ on Saturday evening with both meat and vegetarian options. It includes a baked potato, bread roll plus salads and sauces all for £12.50. Extra items are available at £2.

This year we are offering an ‘all inclusive’ meal ticket comprising Friday night chilli and rice, and a Saturday lunch Soup and bread as well as the BBQ all for £22.

For all these options see our tickets page and please read our ‘what to bring’ information in our handy pdf guide.

Bursary Scheme

We are running our Bursary Scheme again this year. Please visit our Bursary Scheme page to find out more.

Further Information

FAQs

Kids, Partners & Pets

Can I bring my dog to Singfest?

  • Unfortunately not. Our venue’s policy does not allow dogs to be brought onto site, (Assistance dogs excepted).

My partner has booked a non-singing partner ticket. What can they come to?

  • Non-singing parters can come to everything except singing workshops. This includes yoga, ukulele and drumming workshops, concerts and performances, the open mic, ceilidh and campfire sings.

My kids aren’t sure if they want to go to KidsFest or the singing workshops. When do they need to decide?

  • If you are bringing kids and you think they might want to go to some KidsFest activities please book them into KidsFest so we can make sure they’re catered for if they do go. If they decide to sing last minute - not a problem!

Do I need to pay for camping for my kids?

  • Yes. Although kids go free to SingFest you do need buy a camping ticket for every child you bring who would like to camp.

Accommodation

What is the dorm room accommodation setup?

  • There are 18/14 beds per dorm and they are arranged as bunk beds.

    There are toilets and showers all at ground level, all quite accessible.

  • Please bring all your bedding (pillows, sheets, duvets etc.). Only mattresses are provided in the dorms.

Do weekend tickets include camping?

  • No. Please book a separate camping ticket for every member of your group, including kids.

I want to camp - do I need to bring a tent?

  • Yes, we don’t provide tents so you will need everything you need to go camping. There are toilet facilities, showers and washing up basins. Breakfast (toast, fruit, porridge, teas & coffees) is included in your camping ticket. One camping ticket covers one person for the whole weekend

Workshops

If I can’t make the Friday singing workshop but can join for Saturday and Sunday, might I struggle to catch up?

  • Usually the tutors teach different material on the Friday night to the rest of the weekend. The Friday afternoon workshop is more of a warm up session, so you won’t be missing out!

Do I need to bring a chair?

  • Chairs are provided but if you would like to bring a camping chair either for the workshop or for sitting around the campfire please do.

What happens if it rains?

  • All the singing workshops and events are held indoors, either in our marquee or in one of the buildings at Bentley Copse. In the event of bad weather KidsFest, the BBQ and the final performance which are all usually held outside will move indoors. The only thing at risk of not happening is the campfire singing.

What time do day ticket holders arrive?

  • Day ticket holders can arrive for registration from 3pm on Friday and from 9am on Saturday and Sunday. (Or 8am if you’d like to join in the yoga workshop). Check out our programme for more details.

Tickets

I can’t find confirmation of my booking, where is it?

  • Our booking system sends automatic emails when you book. Please check your junk mail folder just in case. If you still can’t find it, get in touch and we will resend your confirmation email.

What is your refund policy?

  • Our refund policy can be found here.

Food

Do I need to provide proof of the food I ordered?

  • No - when you register upon arrival you’ll be given a handy slip of paper to remind you what you ordered.

Can I use the kitchen facilities at Bentley Copse?

  • We’re sorry - all of the kitchen areas of Bentley Copse are for sole use of SingFest staff.

Can you cater for special diets?

  • Vegetarian, Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free diets are catered for as a matter of course. We will do our best to accommodate other diets so please get in touch if you’d like to discuss your dietary needs.

Does the ticket price include food?

  • No. Please book your food tickets separately.