Weekend away Camper and Bus

away
Weekend
A weekend spent at Vdub at the Pub 2012 offered the perfect opportunity
to see some of the fine county of Dorset
This really was an impressive display, and I
spent ages looking at all the cars on show,
including some really quirky VWs. There
was also a jumble alley at this year’s show
for Dubbers looking for a specific part for
their VW. If it wasn’t car parts you were
after, there was a range of stalls to enjoy,
selling everything from Diddy Dubbers baby
wear to VW art, created live at the show
by graffiti artist Art FX. Watching him work
was really interesting and he had a crowd of
festival goers watching him all weekend whilst
he used his amazing spray painting technique to
create some unique pieces of art.
Gemma and Sarah in their
festival finery
Words Gemma Varnfield
Pics Phil Hardman
W
Wimborne,
Dorset
viewing
BMX display made great
Back to the ’80s
Taking the term ‘people carrier’ to new extremes…
hat better way to spend a weekend away than
eager to get on the pedals themselves.
on the south coast in Dorset’s market town of
Priding itself on being a family-friendly festival, there were
Wimborne Minster?
also garden games, a free bouncy castle and Pete’s Didgeridoo
Just a few miles from popular British holiday
Workshop, ensuring kids are safe and happy while mum and dad
destinations such as Poole and Bournemouth,
enjoy the VWs. Pete’s workshop worked really well and when I
Wimborne Minster is the home of the Wimborne Folk Festival,
dropped by, Pete told me it had been really popular with parents
which attracts over 15,000 people to the small market town over
who commented on how much they enjoyed being able to drop
a whole weekend in June of every year. But for Vee Dubbers, it is
the kids off for a few hours whilst they enjoyed the show and
Wimborne’s Vdub at the Pub festival, which this year took place
visited the ever popular beer tent.
between May 11 and 13, that’s the date to put in your diary.
For extreme sports lovers,Vdub at the Pub teamed up with the
This year’s event, named the Reboot Festival,
Windfest Team, who were entertaining the crowds all weekend
was bigger and better than ever and promised an
with their professional BMX and skateboard
experience like never before, and it certainly did
riders. My friends and I spent a long time
not disappoint.
watching these riders who were pulling off
The first Vdub at the Pub took place in 2008
some amazing stunts on the half pipe to wow
at Drusilla’s Inn in Dorset and, as the name
the crowds.
suggests, combined VWs, beer and live music.
Such was the popularity of combining Vdubs
Dubbers came from far and wide to Drusilla’s
and Windfest that Vdub have been invited
Inn for two years before the numbers grew
to show their stuff at the upcoming Winfest
to the point that it was time to find a larger
Re-Tuned Festival, taking place in Lymington’s
venue. So, in 2010,Vdub at the Pub moved
Pylewell Park from September 14-16 2012.
to the grounds of Wimborne Town Football
For VW lovers, the show ‘n’ shine competition
Club, where it remained this year.
was bigger and better than ever this year, with
From 2010,Vdub joined forces with the
more entries in every one of the 11 categories.
Jenny, Cheryl and G
emma
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, raising
striking a pose
over £6,000 since then for this essential
service, providing Dorset and its neighbouring
county, Somerset, with air rescue since 2000.
Friday night at the show was ’80’s night, which got the
festival off to a good start, with the host DJs playing
those ’80’s tunes to get everybody moving into the
night in their fancy dress. This went down really well
and set me up for a great start to a great festival.
Prices for a weekend camping ticket being just
£18.50, camping spaces sold out a week before the
festival. But, with the help of local land owners,Vdub
at the Pub managed to increase camping facilities by
opening a second camping field. The atmosphere
around the pretty market town of Wimborne was
fantastic all weekend, with welly-clad people heading
down the winding streets towards the festival from all
parts of town. Thankfully, the weather was stunning
all weekend, so those wellies weren’t needed after all.
With day tickets priced at just £6 (with children
under 14 going free), there was an influx of local
people at this year’s show as well, making this festival
a new must for the local festival and events calendar.
If you think this all sounds like fun, then keep an eye
on the Vdub at the Pub website and follow them on
facebook and Twitter to receive updates on what you
can expect from next year’s festival. We’ll definitely be
there, so we’ll see you in Dorset next year.
Where We
Stayed
n Wimborne
Town Football
Club, Cuthbury,
Cowgrove Road,
Wimborne
BH21 4EL
Tel: 01202 884821
How Much?
n Fuel £50
n Tickets £18.50
n Food £30
n Beer £3 (1 pint)
Total cost: £125
Pro skater in the W
indfest
half-pipe
Must See/Do
n Folk festival
n Model town
n Water sports
(Poole)
Rainy Day
Options
The crowds loving the DJ
tent ’s ’80’s night
n Heavy horse
centre
n Bournemouth
Oceanarium
n Russell Cotes Art
Gallery & Museum
(Bournemouth)
Local VW
garage
n Beetle Magic,
1 Station Road,
Moreton, Dorset,
DT2 8AZ
Tel: 01305 852338
Piddle Beer Festival
This year’s festival was a three-day event, with live music all
weekend, DJ’s playing into the night and the Dorset Piddle Brewery
Beer Festival taking place in the live music tent. New for this year
was the kids’ area, complete with pedal drag racing, giving the kids
the chance to show off their wheels like mum and dad. Watching
the pedal drag racing was a very enjoyable experience and the kids
loved it. In fact, I think I spotted some future racers amongst the
bunch, as well as a few mums and dads who looked like they were
38 Camper&bus
The show ‘n’ shine was a big hit with our writer
Three days of VWs, live music and the Dorset Piddle Brewery Beer Festival
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