Last weekend, I returned to one of my favorite summer activities – attending a music festival.
And boy, it was great to be back.
On Friday night I attended the Pub in the Park food and music festival held in Wimbledon Park with my friend and colleague, Amy.
The spectacular event was surrounded by live music, sunshine and lots of glitter – the perfect way to kick off my summer 2022.
I always find it surreal when I set foot in a festival – after the last few years during the pandemic – and I made sure to soak up the atmosphere of the park from start to finish.
We arrived just before 6pm and were shown to a very short queue at the entrance – while we waited we were greeted by the friendly Mayor of Merton, Joan Henry, who also seemed excited for the show than festival-goers. were.
From left to right: Poppy, Mayor of Merton, Amy
Hundreds of people followed us, discussing which musical number they were most looking forward to and smelling the aroma of delicious food in the air.
Amy and I headed to the VIP tent where we were greeted by eager festival-goers and friendly faces as we enjoyed (a few) glasses of chilled gin and lemonade.
I took in the surroundings while enjoying my drink(s) – noticing the many pop-up restaurants on offer – including Indian, Chinese, cheese, meat, vegan and many more.
Ferris wheel at Pub in the Park
Our stomachs quickly began to rumble and we headed for the food stalls as acid jazz band The Brand New Heavies took the stage as the evening’s opening act.
My choice of cuisine fell on a pop-up restaurant called Cue Point, dedicated to barbecued smoked meats and recommended by a festival colleague.
I chose to have the lamb chops and coleslaw – and let me tell you – it was the best lamb I have ever tasted – the meat was incredibly tender and the coleslaw was overflowing with flavor.
Lamb chops and coleslaw
Amy opted to have a ball of arancini at a stand called Café Murano – it was equally delicious and perfect for vegetarians.
Amy’s Arancini Ball
After devouring our dishes and as the sun began to set, we headed to the main stage and prepared to see a true princess of 2000s pop – Sophie Ellis Bextor.
Sophie took the crowd through a disco wonderland, playing classic hits such as Disco Inferno, Ain’t Nobody (loves me better) and her original songs, Groovejet, Crying at the Discotheque and her most famous hit, Murder on the Dance Floor.
Sophie Ellis Bextor on stage
I have to say my least favorite thing about festivals are the public restrooms, but Pub in the Park outdid itself – as the restrooms were clean and stocked with toilet paper.
After our quick trip to the restroom, Amy and I headed to Greenall’s Gin stand, where I had a delicious Gin Colada and got ready for the ultimate rave to end the night – Faithless.
We were looking forward to the DJ set of Faithless – both fans of the electronic and dance group for years – and found our delirious spot right in front of the stage.
The DJ set was exhilarating – fire, smoke and colorful strobe lights surrounded the stage, and the bass could be heard a mile away.
Cheating DJ set
Faithless ended the set with their legendary dance floor – Insomnia – and the energy was exceptional – reminding me why festivals are the most charismatic and uplifting places during the summer.
We ended the day on a high, as we left Pub in the Park laughing and dancing out of the park, preparing for the dark ride home.
Pub in the Park was an exceptional festival that exceeded all my expectations – an ideal choice for families, friends, ravers and anyone who enjoys a delicious selection of food.
Can’t wait to go back next year.
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Source: www.times-series.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-01 04:00:00
