Hainault Recreation Ground Ilford reviews by real event-goers

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Attended most years, great atmosphere, easy location, only moan I could have this year 2023 May was the poor sound set up for the Djs, and the bad sound engineers, sound quality was not up to scratch, power cuts and issues with loss of sound and speakers not working properly! Needs to be looked at! Otherwise had a wicked time with great vibes!!!

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Worst festival ever.
Small
Badly organised
Music very low
Terrible atmosphere

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

I enjoyed it, but the bar was too expensive and the queue for the bar a joke. The sound in the main tent could have been better and I like that it was in a tent, in previous years I've been sunburnt or cold when it's been outside. And they needed somewhere that sold coffee ffs.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

I enjoyed it although the djs played some one the same tunes (heard one track 4 times, and another 3 times). The bar was too expensive and the queue for the bar a joke. The sound in the main tent could have been better and I like that it was in a tent, in previous years I've been sunburnt or cold when it's been outside. And they needed somewhere that sold coffee ffs.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

The MCs drowned out the tunes. They were good but they need to know when to let the music reign.
Stupidly long queues and security did nothing about queue jumpers.
No trouble. Good range of audience. Enough loos

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Had a great day out, got to catch some great DJS for little money. Needed a few more security on the bar que, but standard across all festivals i find.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

I do love a day rave

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

No seating even in VIP ! Even though the original moondance goers are now in their 40’s! The prices were high on drinks and the speaker system was no where near loud enough ! There was not enough marquees and headliners Ratpack were in what looked like an ice cream van !! Won’t be booking this event again

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Much smaller than usual in the new location, 1 stage and 1 tent and the stage had no energy you could get to the front so easily, one ride which was £8 per person for a few spins lol the old garage nation with multiple tents and a huge stage plus quite a few rides was so much better and my friends had to queue at the bar for nearly an hour in the blazing heat security was quite rough too wouldn’t go again unless they moved it back and done the old garage nation luckily it was good vibes with my group but the sound system was awful and it just was not giving good energy at all. Also they kept playing the same songs over and over and when the artists came out the crowd wasn’t even hyped enough to sing back to them was just bad compared to the 3 other times I’ve been, disappointing when you make a nearly 2 hour journey to get there

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Had I really good time and the atmosphere was overall great. However the queue system was terrible, had to wait a very long time. I also suggest bringing back another tent for r@b and dancehall, that would definitely top this event.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

No dramas good vibes and music

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Bought vip tickets hoping to avoid a queue
Got there at 11:50 to then be held in a pen like cattle with no instructions of what was happening didn’t open the gates until 12:50 which is ridiculous
Beer was warm and bloody expensive £7 a can is a rip off
Music was great however the set up was strange and didn’t even have the correct equipment for slipmatt (they did rectify it and he got to play but stupid they don’t know what equipment djs need)
Was a good day but doubt we would return as the queue and drink prices put a massive downer on the day

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

What a event every year ! Can't wait for the next one

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Shocking event! Security put her hand so far down my bra and was feeling around,I felt so uncomfortable 😕 she then asked to check the other side and if I refused I would have to go over to the security tent to be searched further so I felt like I didn't have a choice this was a violation of my privacy and I felt uneasy about it far to touchy for my liking! The sound system was far to quiet and I could hear everyone's conversations plus the garage music kept cutting out. Drinks where far to expensive and warm and the bar set up was a joke. Toilets where disgusting and stank! The whole thing was poorly organised, I am really disappointed it was amazing last year! I won't be returning next year, let's hope it gets done right next time.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

1st time at this fest, but done many many others previously, although not a GN one. We got there later in day about 4:30 and there were no queues. Security a little handsy, be prepared to be touched more firmly than I have anywhere else.
The bar needs sorting. U need to have queues per server, not everyone walking to one point and then not having any space to get to ther servers and it all blocked up. In the heat of the day, drinks need to be easily accessed and I feel they weren't. 1hour for a drink while stood in 20c+ heat is not on. Water could be bought from the Merch tent, but it was a little sign, needed to be clearer and paying 3.50 per bottle is disgusting. Canned drinks £7 weren't bad but when it took and hour to get to the bar, I thought we would grab 3 each so we could put closed ones in a bag, but no the staff opened EVERY can! Told.us unable to serve without being opened. What is that about? Never ever heard of that before. Oh and a bottle of Hennessy at £195 is outrageous and I don't even drink it!!
Toilets were actually not too bad, I seemed to always find a quite fresh, clean and papered one.
Music - please sort this. I shouldnt be able to hear everyones conversation around me when I am at a stage. Garage stage, kept cutting out and wasn't loud enough, could hear us all singing because it wasn't loud enough.
I won't be back to this one, but really hope for the usuals and locals that you sort this out as it could be soo good if organised better.

Review of Sunbourne Festival > Garage Nation x AWOL x Moondance • Hainault

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

My friends and I had a great time. This was my first time and I would definitely recommend to others who love garage. The music, the food and the atmosphere were 10/10. Even the ‘festival style toilets’, which I hate, were kept as clean as they possibly could be.

The bar queues were long and we had a long wait to get drinks. The email I received a few days before said that ‘drinking water would be available on site’, however I could not find any water points and they were unable to fill up my water bottle at the bar, so I had to buy water for £3.50!!!
Unfortunately at the end of the night a fight broke out and I don’t feel that security were experienced enough or even big enough to take control over the situation. Your security team should look like they can handle themselves and any issues that may arise. I’m also confused as to why the police could clearly see that a fight was taking place and stood there and did nothing (although I accept that this had nothing to do with the organisers, this was still very upsetting to see).

That being said, this incident took place right at the end of the night, so did not over shadow the amazing time that my friends and I had. I will definitely go back next year, but maybe leave a little earlier.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Preferred the other venue. Drinks super expensive but as a junglist, the music was on point

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

The garage didn't seem to be organised.
Walking in, no signs telling you which way, so kind of confusing.
Drinks prices and ques were as expected.
Waited over an hour 1pm to be let in, due to them not being ready in time.
Que jumping was ridiculous.
Sound quality in the AWOL tent was poor.

Review of Garage Nation In The Park x Moondance x AWOL - Hainault

Was the best day