The Isle of Wight Festival had its roots in 1968 when a relatively small event attracted 10,000 visitors ot Ford Farm near Godshill.  However in the following two years and in the wake of Woodstock in the USA the event became vast attracting ledgends of the day and hundreds of thousands of festival goers.

The 1970 event came to be dubbed the "UK's Woodstock" (in fact it had more attendees than Woodstock - estimates vary between 600 and 700,000 people on an island that at the time boasted a population of just 100,000).  

The list of acts featured in these early days reads like a veritable hall of fame of rock greats and includes Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, The Doors, The Who, Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Moody Blues and Leonard Cohen to name but a few.

Footage was later cut together and captured in the seminal (though, to some, controversial) documentary from Murray Lerner, and revived interest in the Festival has led to many records of historical sets being released to CD and DVD in recent years including the very early live performance of key elements of Tommy within the Who's lengthy set.

Such was the impact on the Island that it led to lobbying and the passing of the "Isle of Wight Act" which made such future events almost impossible to hold in that era.

The Isle of Wight Festival was revived in 2002 and has continued every year since in its current venue at Seaclose Park near Newport, though on a smaller scale than the 1969 and 1970 events, attracting typically 50,000 to 70,000 visitors.  The modern incarnation continues to boast up and coming acts of the day as well as global superstars.

This year the headlineers include Rod Stewart, Run DMC, Arcade Fire and David Guetta.

Staying at Chale Bay Farm for the Festival

Whilst we have to admit we aren't the nearest accommodation to the Isle of Wight Festival site at Seaclose Park, we are usually inundated by festival goers looking to book last minute, so get your  booking in early and you can take advantage of all the offers we have available.