2010 Festival Press Coverage

Port Eliot Festival has been making a big impression across the local, national and international press. Here’s a round-up of some of the nice things that have been said about the festival recently:

“Since beginning its love affair with the paying public in 2003, this Cornish festival has been proffering magical doses of literature, music and the visual arts, in loving ode to the concept of unchecked creativity.”
– The Guardian Guide

“…a relaxed, cool, truly clever affair” – Grazia

“An alfresco festival for the senses” – The Telegraph

“Think Big Chill meets Hay on Wye and you’ve got this boutique literary festival.” – Red magazine

“For literature with rock ‘n’ roll gumption, head to Port Eliot.” – Easy Living

“Port Eliot - a festival apart” – GQ

“Port Eliot’s not all about literature, fashion and art – it’s soundtracked by some of the best music around… Port Eliot is fast becoming the most talked about boutique arts event in Britain.” – The West Briton

“For open-air imagination tickling” – Harper’s Bazaar

“Port Eliot is the clever clogs’ summer festival – a weekend of wordy wonder, a garden party under a starry sky.” – Tatler

“Port Eliot Festival is gathering a following of like-minded souls who love the intimate house-party atmosphere, where you may find yourself queuing for a curry with historian Simon Schama or rubbing bare shoulders with The Wire actor Dominic West in the hot tub.” – You magazine

“Port Eliot has come of age, combining the best of Glastonbury with the cerebral qualities of Hay, on a sweeter and, yes, less smug scale.” – Hadley Freeman, the Guardian

“The fashionista’s favourite festival” – Sunday Times Style

“One of the reasons I love coming to Port Eliot is to kind of live this English mythology and walk among the gods and goddesses.”
Anna Sui in Style.com

“Never before have I seen so many girls with bare brown legs, mid-calf boots and summer frocks.” – Ian Jack in the Guardian

“More village fete than Glasto, there’s cake stalls, tea in the orangery, arty discussions and live music.” – Marie Clare

“Top 5 summer festivals” – Pyschologies magazine

“Bookworms won’t forgive us for signposting this literary festival, but sod it, why should music fans miss out on its terrific downhome atmosphere, gorgeous Cornish setting and a bill that features the Mercury Prize-winning Talvin Singh, indie sniper Luke Haines, psych oddballs Ralfe Band performing a soundtrack to a film directed by The Mighty Boosh director Paul King and a tent hosted by rock ‘n’ roll nature lovers Caught By The River.” – Time Out

“The beauty of this festival is that you are invited to expect the unexpected.” – Plymouth Herald

“It’s like some fantasy.” In Style magazine

“The younger, more raggedy, but far cooler, sibling of Hay-on-Wye… At one point I was listening to ex-pro surfer and former editor of Surfing magazine, Jamie Brisick, the next stood next to Hanif Kureishi, one moment taking on Hadley Freeman’s fashion does and don’t, then suddenly in the tiny hours of the morning listening to British Sea Power from a nearby riverbank with new found friends. One of the thoroughly refreshing things about Port Eliot is the stars are there on the lawns with you, a bit like we’re all groundlings in the pit of the Globe theatre enjoying a great party.” - The Mirror

“The hottest, hippest garden party this side of the big smoke.” – South West Herald

“This is unlike any other literary event you’ve ever been to with merry-go-rounds and wild swimming in the estuary, wood-fired hot tubs,flower shows, moon-watching and jamming by the river.” – JoulesClothing.com