Information
Everything you need to know to have a brilliant and bother-free weekend.
Travel
Getting here by car
Coming from North, South or West the key to getting to us easily is to find the junction of the A1(M) and the A61.
Exit the A1(M) at this junction and take the A61 towards Thirsk. Take the first right on the A61 towards Baldersby St James.
After 3 miles turn left at Gate 1 into the festival site.
Coming from the North-East or East exit the A168 at Topcliffe going straight through the village turning right
immediately after the bridge onto Park Road and then right at the T junction. After 1/4 of a mile turn right at Gate 1
into the festival site.
Getting here by train
The nearest train station to the festival site is Thirsk, seven miles away. Thirsk is on the main East
Coast Main Line which runs from Kings Cross in London to York and onwards to Edinburgh.
We recommend Grand Central Trains for a great direct service from London to Thirsk in around 2 hours.
We are going to run a limited shuttle bus from Thirsk train station to the festival site for a fee of £4.
The shuffle will run inbound from 1pm to 9pm on Friday and outbound on Sunday from 12am to 7pm - just look out for a bus
in the main car park with our logo in the window.
Below are some local taxi companies who can take you from the station to the festival for £10-12
Prices Taxis - 01845 522 709
Dale Taxis Of Thirsk - 01845 522 745
Chapmans Taxis - 07960 568 299
Age restrictions
All persons 0-15 years old must have a valid young person's ticket. All under 16s must be accompanied
by a parent or guardian who is over 18 years old (Maximum ratio 1:4)
Those wishing to stay in the family camping must be accompanied by children 16 years or younger.
Under 25s will be asked to provide photo ID at the ticket exchange to gain a wristband that will
allow service at the site's bars. Driver's licence, Passport, Citizen Card, VALIDATE UK are all valid
forms of ID.
Deer Shed Festival will not intentionally contain content unsuitable for children. All comedy is rated PG. Other stages
may feature material not suitable for children that we are unable to predict and classify due to the nature of live performance.
There may be age restrictions on some workshops
Kids Policy
Key workers managing the activities will be CRB checked.
Children under 18 are the responsibility of their guardian/parents and signage within the children’s area
will alert adults of this. Activities undertaken within the children’s area will be suitably risk assessed
and any age restrictions will be applied by notice.
Deer Shed Festival’s policy is to encourage family participation and signs will be displayed accordingly.
Water will be available for purchase within children’s area.
First Aid and Lost Children are within the Family area and in close proximity to the production area.
Announcements will be made in both the family area and main stage during change-overs. No mention of the
child's name or description will be given.
Feeding and nappy changing facilities will be available in or near the information area. Suitable food vendors will
be on site to provide food and drink.
Opening and closing times
Friday
Site opens 1pm
Arena opens 3pm for food and drink
Arena entertainment starts 6pm
Arena closes 3am Saturday morning
Saturday
Arena opens 8am
Arena closes 3am Sunday morning
Sunday
Arena opens 8am
Arena closes 5pm
Site closes 7pm
On site facilities
Five performance stages
Family camping, quiet camping, no kids camping and standard camping.
Showers.
Plenty of clean toilets and baby changing facilities.
Two undercover bars
Large undercover space in a large Big Top
Large food tent with seating and high chairs.
Quiet nursing area with baby food/milk warning
Various food vendors, and stall holders.
Welfare and first aid tent.
Kids tent and outside play area.
Free car parking and tent camping
Large kids play area in campsite
Free drinking water will be available in the campsite and at bars
Site Rules and Guidance
These are in additional to those in our terms and conditions. We have
strict guidelines to adhere to if we want to be able to repeat the festival, please do not make it harder for us to stage the
festival next year by ignoring the points below.
- No animals allowed on site
- No glass
- No amplified music i.e. don't bring your radio
- No drumming, leave your bongos at home
- Your own alcohol will not be permitted in the arena
- Try to keep general noise in the campsite to a minimum especially after 11pm.
Camping
Free camping in a tent is available over the weekend.
Camp fires are not permitted.
There is plenty of camping space, please spread out your tents accordingly.
Small camping gas canisters only permitted (up to 2.7 kg in gas weight). No cylinders.
Camp site wardens will be stationed in the camping area throughout the festival to answer any questions.
We have a family camping area which is away from the main arena to minimise noise at night. Please do not
camp here if you don't have your family with you.
Please respect your neighbours and keep noise to a minimum especially after 11pm.
The camp site and festival site as a whole will close at 7pm on Sunday 22th July.
Drugs Policy
The dealing in or use of illegal drugs is not condoned by Deer Shed Festival. It is illegal to take, to buy
or to sell drugs. Drug enforcement laws are as applicable on site as anywhere else in the country. If you deal
in drugs, it is likely that you will be arrested via security and handed over to North Yorkshire Constabulary.
There are covert police and security onsite who will take action as appropriate. Neither anti-social nor
illegal behaviour will be tolerated and participants will leave themselves liable for eviction from the site.
Experimenting with drugs can lead to adverse reactions. Drugs can kill. The crowds and the size of the
festival can be very frightening and disorientating and taking drugs could spoil your enjoyment of the event.
If you do take drugs and you become ill, depressed or frightened please ask a steward to direct you to one of
the many facilities on site which can help and support you.
New to the Deer Shed festival is Mr Trolley, a trolley hire service to help you get all your kit from car to
where you decide to to camp.
A hire point will be located in the car park near the entrance to the festival. This is where you can hire a
trolley, take it away, load up and ease into the festival.
To hire a trolley first a hire form must be completed and a deposit taken. Then a trolley is provided with
bungees and safe use is explained. When the trolley is returned, the duration of the hire and price is calculated,
the cost of the hire is then deducted from the deposit and the remainder returned.
If you have children with you, when the festival has begun you will be able to hire a trolley overnight to wheel
the little ones around in. Allowing you to catch the late performances whilst they are either enjoying the ride or
asleep, safe and sound, right by your side. In addition to the trolley you can hire a wagon conversion. They have
cushions, a canopy with sides that go up or down and solar powered fairy lights. Pick the wagon colour you like,
pay for the hire plus the deposit and off you go.
Hire charges
Getting in and out of the festival – 30 mins (minimum hire) £5 – Deposit £50.
We’re not strict on the duration and always allow for extra time.
Overnight hires
Wagon conversion – one night £25, 2 nights £45, 3 nights £60 – Deposit £100.
Just a trolley – one night £15, 2 nights £25, 3 nights £30 – Deposit £50
