Festival Maps
Food
We have a large selection of food stalls available to purchase something to suit everyone these are located around the site and include vegan & vegetarian options from Freshly Baked Pizzas- Mexican - Thai - Indian - Fish & Chips - Caribbean - Gourmet Burgers - Hog Roast - Freshly Made Donuts - Ice Cream - Greek - Jerk chicken.
Liquid Refreshments
Various bars located around our site which includes Colonel Porters Marquee with a range of Gins, Rums, beers, ciders - Champagne marquee - Real Ale Marquee - Primm’s Van - Cocktail Van - Main 25 metre Bar - Heineken bar - Bus bar - plus Tea & Coffee and soft drink.
We also offer two free drinking water points on the site.
Courtyard Arena
Situated at the rear of the hall within a 19th century courtyard, this will be transformed into an amazing area undercover where House music reigns supreme.
Over 18’s only after 18:00 each day
The Tree House Arena
Will be playing host to a Live Bands including up and coming Artist, Along with Dj’s
In to the Forest
A star-studded line up of DJ’s situated in the Forest.
Playing everything from Soul, Funk, Disco, and lots more.
Children's Area
Our Children’s area is located down the tree lined drive from the main entrance, which includes Circus training, Punch & Judy, Children’s Rides & play area.
Performers from 2023 below
This year's children’s entertainers are from as far afield as Japan, USA and Germany and are guaranteed to keep young people happy over the two days in a dedicated children’s arena!
Acts include Witty Look, a comedy unicycle act originally from Japan but who now appear worldwide, street performer, Herbie Treehead and Club Groovy – a special dance event for mini movers.
You can also watch clown, magician and sword swallower, Tom Timon, originally from Berlin but again with a massive following across the globe.
Youngsters can learn some new skills at the Have A Go Circus School or can pop into the mobile museum belonging to the Rock Showman, where they can enjoy the displays of fossils, crystals and gems.
A number of walkabout acts will also be out and about at the site across the weekend, including penny farthing rider and juggler, Felix Brent and unicyclists and jugglers, The Flying Wheelnuts.
The children’s programme will run daily from noon until 6pm throughout the festival, with fairground rides also on offer.
THE PEEWEE BIG TOP SHOW
We will schedule One or Two unique Shows, to perform twice per day. Shows can repeat both days, or be varied over weekend. Your feedback welcome - Options for shows include:
MAPLE STAPLEGUN (AUSTRALIA)
An award-winning comedy hula hoop show about being a modern, middle aged woman, where everything is a little more difficult than it used to be, but it makes great comedy along the route to success. A great shjow for the target demographic of mums and families.
DANDYMAN (AUSTRALIA)
Award winning Physical comedian, Circus artist, Vaudevillian and absurdist Dan Oldaker. Available away from his Edinburgh Fringe season. SUBLIMIT JAPANESE CIRCUS (JAPAN) Stunning High level skills from a touring Japanese circus duo. Never before seen in Northern England.
Let's Circus presents the Herbie Treehead Variety Show!
Let the internationally acclaimed comedian, musician and performer Herbie Treehead host you into the realm of laughter and awe! This tailor-made show consists of hand-picked circus artists (remove coming) from across the world, performing dangerous and mesmerising acts (remove just) for your viewing pleasure. Aerialists, jugglers, acrobats and people escaping simple-minded definitions create a colourful show of skill, colour and variety. Brought together inside the Peewee Big Top by the ever surprising host - Herbie Treehead.
Club Groovy
A stage show come dance participation event aimed at young people, Club Groovy gets both the young and young at heart dancing in their interactive character led show. Get your kids groove on at this interactive disco & dance workshop.
Roaming Street Theatre
No time to visit our Family zone? Rest assured! The aura of magic and otherworldly encounters will spread to you with our Walkabout Street Performers!
Penny farthing rider and juggler, Felix Brent will be here, there and everywhere on Saturday, whilst unicyclists and jugglers, The Flying Wheelnuts will be entertaining crowds around the site on Sunday.
The Rock Showman's Booth
Hosted by the most entertaining geologists on Earth, this Mobile Museum houses science based performances & workshops and a collection of fossils, dinosaur bones, crystals and natural curiosities. For Hardwick Live it will feature a chalkboard of activities throughout the day, including Dino Dig, Find a Fossil and Gemstone ‘Scratch Patch’ where every child takes home their own piece of treasure.
Circus workshops
We are the circus that runs away to meet you! Not only are we here to provide you with cheerful entertainment, we invite you to participate in playful and educational circus workshops led by our international performers. Try your best at juggling, peacock feather balance, acrobatics, hula-hooping and much more!
Disclaimer: all kids left here for more than an hour may exhibit a strong urge to run away and join our circus!!
Fairground Rides
Located on our middle area we have an assortment for Fairground rides for all
The Venue
Hardwick Festival is the biggest music festival in the North East UK. Set in the grounds of Hardwick Hall Hotel, overlooking 120 acres of parkland, the festival lies in the heart of the beautiful County Durham countryside with easy access to Newcastle Upon Tyne, Gateshead, Durham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Richmond, Northallerton & Darlington.
Hardwick is a country park with a difference. A perfect location for a great day out.
Parking & More
Our car park has a very large capacity Friday parking Tickets are available in advance on line at £5.00 per vehicle or you will be able to pay on the day, cash only at £6.00 per vehicle, Saturday or Sunday parking tickets are available in advance on line at £6.00 per vehicle or you will be able to pay cash only on the day at £8:00.
Our advance weekend car park pass for Camping is £10.00. If you wish to leave your vehicle overnight after Friday you may do so, however this will be at your own risk, the gates will be locked at 3:30 am Saturday morning and will be reopened at 10.00 am on Saturday and Sunday morning, please note you are not allowed to sleep over night in your vehicle.
The Car park for our event is situated on Hardwick East Park and will be clearly signed, the entrance to this will be from the mini roundabout opposite the entrance to Hardwick Park on the A177.
If you are being dropped off please drive into the East Park and follow the signs to the drop off area and into the event.
For pick up after the event please arrange for your driver / taxi to pick you up in the main Hardwick Park car park where there is plenty of space for them to wait for you. There will be no parking or waiting outside the main entrance to Hardwick Hall Hotel, the main car park or on the A177.
There will be plenty of space at the rear of the audience area and away from the stage area for you to sit down on the grass using rug’s and enjoy the whole day out, the area at the front of the stage is for a standing audience this is an all standing concert.
Please dress for the weather and remember the event is taking place on the hotel lawns so please wear appropriate footwear on the day, there is no dress code for Hardwick Festival.
Last but no means least, please remember to bring some good weather with you.
Coach Prices & Pickup Points
We now can confirm the coach prices and pick up points for Hardwick Festival Sat 19th/Sun 20th August these travel tickets are only available from JH Coaches, these will need to be booked direct.
Routes and new prices Below
10.30 - Newcastle, Bus Stop at bottom of Bewick Street (opposite Central Station)
10.45 - Gateshead, Metro Interchange, Stand X
11.00 - Washington Galleries, Galleries Bus Station
11.10 - Chester le Street, Market Place Stand M
11.25 - Durham, Bus Stop on Sutton Street
10.10 - South Shields, Metro/Bus Interchange, Stand Q
10.30 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange
11.10 - Hartlepool, Bus Stop on A179 outside the Royal Navy Museum opposite Asda
11.25 - Billingham, Bus Stop before Swan Hotel, Wolviston Road
10.45 - Spennymoor, Outside Town Hall
11.05 - Newton Aycliffe – St Clare’s Church, St Cuthberts Way
11.25 - Bishop Auckland, Bus Station Stand A
11.00 - Stockton on Tees, Bridge Road opposite Thomas Sheraton Pub
11.15 - Middlesborough, Bus Stop outside BBC Tees, Newport Road
10.05 - Northallerton, The Buck Inn, High Street £17.50 PP
10.35 - Darlington, Outside Dolphin Centre £15.50 PP
Sedgfield Racecourse
Join Our Mailing List
Never miss an update by entering your email address below.
Loading...