Newark Showground Newark reviews by real event-goers

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Very disappointed. It was music in a tin box with very bad acoustics and absolutely no atmosphere. If you wanted to sit outside on your picnic blanket / chair you were sat in the car park where you could only listen to the music through speakers. Why wasn't the event on the grass? Although, the ticket prices themselves were good, I wasn't pleased to know about all the restrictions. You can't bring you own picnic, you can't go back to your car and come back in..... And the parking ticket went up by 50% on the last day.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Review of Save The Rave: 90's Festival - Newark

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Not outdoor in an old warehouse and not able to put up chairs VIP area. If wanted to sit had to put our chairs up in the carpark or sit on the concrete floor inside. Would not recommend.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Well when we got there it was a lovely day and the area was all fenced off, no real issue. However as the day progressed with quite a few people there there was nowhere to go other than the very narrow section outside where the food was or inside a metal building with no ventilation on a hot day. There was no grassed area to sit on, just some rough hard-core chippings. There were some benches but only enough for around 50 people.
The food offering was limited but from what we had tasty. Strangely though only hot food, not even and ice cream van!
Anyway the 1st act was fair, 2nd act an Elton John tribute was very good, the 3rd act was when we left we tried to endure it but couldn't.

Review of Save The Rave: 90's Festival - Newark

After seeing how remote the location was, booked a hotel and the coach. Then the coach gets cancelled with no replacement. Social media queries went unanswered & took ages to locate the right link for the parking pass. Not sure why we had to pay given Newark advertise as free parking and the steward said we were 1 of 6 people to book a pass as everyone else struggled too. We were expecting an outside venue and it was indoor. The outdoor space wasn't very big, we paid VIP and the seating was small, drink stall but no food stall but we did love the VIP area of the crowd. The acts were amazing but a few artists played the same songs. We hadn't been before, looking at last years event and listening to people who went last year it's clear this year was compromised. I'd still recommend it though - good company, good music, good food and nice weather made it a day to remember. Just a shame it seemed to be the mini version and not the full whack.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Parking was fine.
Venue was awful, bands played inside a building that looked like an aircraft hangar. Acoustics were appalling. Absolutely no atmosphere.
Seating outside was in the car park.
The only alcohol-free drinks were c**e, lemonade or water.
Some performers were better than others, Spice Girls and Beatles were totally off key.
I will never go to this event again.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Last year it was outside but this year we were made to sit in a car park with no screen of the acts the only view we had wad of the toilets. We paid for VIP tickets. We left early because of this and if this comment could lead to a refund we want it. The food was poor and well over priced and the alcohol was too. We won't be going again and also would tell our friends and family the same "To stay well clear of". It's a shame because last year was brilliant.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

The acts were fantastic, but the sound was appalling unless you stood right up the front. This was caused by the venue & it being held inside a big metal building & the sound was just bouncing off every surface & booming/banging & getting distorted. The sound actually sounded better from outside but that defeated the object as you were amongst the food wagons. The heat & humidy inside was unbearable. I definitely won't attend again if it's held inside that building at Newark Showground.
The food variety was good.
The drink variety was poor, there was not one single non alcoholic type beer or equivalent.
I think there could of been a bit more for families with children, as there was just one overpriced fairground ride. Many families had turned up with balls & toys for children, thinking it was being held outside on grass.
Such a shame because, all the staff were lovely & as I already said the acts were brilliant.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Having attended last year's open air festival at Newark Showground and had such a brilliant time in the beautiful sunshine, spacious grassed seating area and its lovely atmosphere, we were so looking forward to it thisyear, bringing lots of new friends with us to 'show it off', we were absolutely gutted to find this year's event was indoors with a small stage, much fewer acts, and only a small concrete 'car park' area with a speaker to sit in if we wanted the sunshine, squashed in like sardines. we felt like turning round and walking out (as did quite a few others) but as we'd arrived by mini bus we had to stick it out.....bands were good but we didn't feel we could enjoy them as much. Security company was way over the top for such a small event and a very dubious leader dressed in black who removed some very expensive perfume from my friends handbag, took her to Bury it under a nearby hedge and return for it later....we came out later to recover it to a friends car and it was no longer there.. it had obviously been taken and the only one who knew it was there was himself...he protested when confronted but we were highly suspicious and said we'd report it. drinks and food way overpriced as always but it seems you have to expect this somehow these days at certain festivals! we will not be returning next year. I think you'll find the reviews speak for themselves.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Good day. Massive disappointment was led to believe it was outdoors, but not. In a big hanger. List of lots of bands but only 7 on the day. Queen, ABBA and Oasis were great, Elton John and beatles good, Bowie OK, but Spice Girl hopeless.
Plenty of food and drinks available, some costly, but great food and portion sizes very good.
Overall a good day.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

A dusty car park and hanger for a venue, which was a far cry from the great setting last year. The line-up wasn't anyway near what was advertised. The parking was double last year's price. Only food available was fried and unhealthy.
Very disappointing compared to 2023 and line-up was falsely advertised this year.

Review of Save The Rave: 90's Festival - Newark

What a day absolutely amazing brought back so many memories had the time of our life's

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

We had purchased tickets some months ago for this event, however on The Thursday evening my partner came across some info re: Newark.
None of your own food/drinks. Only a empty water bottle permitted. No re entry for any reason. No definite times for the acts performing. A Tad too authoritarian I'm afraid. So we gave it a miss.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

No organisation, hardly any choice of good and all at extortionate prices. We left early as it was so bad

Review of Save The Rave: 90's Festival - Newark

lased has an outdoor festival buitb in fact was inside a cattle shed, which made the sound quality awful, unless you were right at the fron. however to be right at the front you would have to spend an extra £20 for a VIP ticket.
Also parking at £10 for the day was expensive. ( & not mentioned before hand)drinks & food were expensive.
not enough seating outside. This wouldn`t have been a problem but there was no grass to sit on being primarily on a roadway.

Review of Look-A-Like Festival: Tribute Festival Newark

As we come to this festival regular. Why has it been changed this year? Outdoor festival means out doors. It was good weather, so why did we have the bands? In?
The exhibition centre, which was indoors and terrible. The children had nowhere to play as last year they played football on the grass. The prices are ridiculous. The tribute bands had been halved. Where was Fleetwood Mac? Where was Bon Jovi? Where was Amy Winehouse all these was there last year? The prices are for drinks and food are ridiculous. And also we now had to pay for parking. Outdoor festival means outdoors, hot sunny day and we all had to sit inside disappointed this year with this event. So you need to read these comments and sort it for next year So.
they had the fun fair ride as adults and Children could go on
But for 5 pound per person.What Families can afford those prices. The tribute bands prices are cheap, but you put the prices up on everything else.
They Say that you can't bring drink and food in to the grounds. And you have your bags searched, but you charge the prices you charge and then there is a tap to fill up your water bottle, but you can't bring your water bottle in with you so work that one out. Get this sorted for next year and get back on the fields where the children can play and we can sit out in the open fresh air and sunshine if the day is a sunny day and for the VIP. Area was absolutely shocking compared to what it was like last year.
Very disappointed in this festival this year As I go to a lot of concerts and festivals. And never had it like this before. So sort it for next year

Review of Save The Rave: 90's Festival - Newark