Red Funnel host mini festival village in preperation for Isle of Wight Festival

Red Funnel has been gearing up to transport thousands of festivalgoers to the Isle of Wight this weekend. The team has been working hard to ensure that the festival experience starts from the moment travellers arrive at the terminal with a mini festival village at each Southampton terminal and music in Southampton and Isle of Wight terminals on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th June.

This year, the cross-Solent ferry company has been getting revellers in the festival spirit with DJs in both Southampton terminals, a body artist and hair braider. Food and drink stalls including the likes of Mermaid Gin, Dorset Food Co and Siren Craft Beer Bar have been offering a taste of the best local food and drink.

In both Southampton and Isle of Wight terminals, festival goers will be welcomed with music and festival-themed décor, including displays of art and sculptures created by local Isle of Wight and Southampton schools.

To support the increased demand over the festival period, Red Funnel has added 12 additional sailings to their timetable. Every year, office-based team members are also redeployed in and around the terminals. This year is no exception with extra colleagues on hand to assist in directing traffic and passengers as they arrive and depart.

Fran Collins, CEO at Red Funnel, said: “We are proud to be the opening and closing act of the Isle of Wight festival for thousands of travellers each year, and as such we have lots of experience managing such a huge operation. With 12 extra sailings and more colleagues supporting on the ground, we are prepared for what will be one of our busiest weekends of the year.”

In preparation for the weekend, the cross-Solent ferry company also partnered with 14 schools on the Isle of Wight and mainland to create a wonderful range or artwork and sculptures in the theme of the festival: Sirens and Sailors. The students used a range of recycled plastics to create their masterpieces, which are now proudly on display at terminals for festivalgoers to admire.

Fran continued: “It has been fantastic involving schools from our local community in the run up to the festivities, and hope our passengers enjoy admiring the wonderful artwork that the students have created especially for the occasion. We look forward to welcoming all passengers to our pre-festival experience filled with music, body paint and food stalls, and wish all our travellers a safe and happy journey with Red Funnel.”

Additional Isle of Wight Festival sailings:

16th June

Southampton – East Cowes: 21:00
East Cowes – Southampton: 22:30

17th June

Southampton – West Cowes: 00:45
West Cowes – Southampton: 01:20

18th June

Southampton – West Cowes: 00:45, 01:55
West Cowes – Southampton: 01:20, 02:30

19th June

Southampton – West Cowes: 00:45
West Cowes – Southampton: 01:20

20th June

Southampton – East Cowes: 21:00
East Cowes – Southampton: 22:30

-Ends-

Notes to editors

About Red Funnel
Red Funnel is the original Isle of Wight ferry company with roots tracing back to 1820. Based in the UK port of Southampton, Red Funnel carries 2.3m passengers and over 800,000 vehicles on its ferry route between the UK port of Southampton and East Cowes and 1.1m passengers between Southampton and West Cowes on its Red Jet Hi-Speed service.

In addition to ferry travel, Red Funnel is the only cross-Solent operator to offer ferry inclusive bonded holiday accommodation, attraction tickets, festival and event tickets and activity packages. Sub-brands include ‘Red Jet’ (the Hi-Speed passenger only ferry service serving West Cowes) and its on board café, ‘ReFuel’.

The Company is a founder member of Visit Isle of Wight Ltd, the Island’s not for profit destination management organisation and Red Funnel sponsors or supports most of the Island’s premier events including the IW Festival, Cowes Week, Rhythm Tree, The Great Wonderfest, Wight Proms, Cowes Classics, and Walk the Wight as well as a range of community and niche interest events. Red Funnel’s Charity of the Year, 2022 is Young Lives Vs Cancer.

For more information, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk.