Northern Kin Festival Event Info

Northern Kin is located at the picturesque USHAW HISTORIC HOUSE, CHAPELS & GARDENS, WOODLAND ROAD, DURHAM, DH7 7DW

(WHAT 3 WORDS FOR LOCATION: earplugs:ideal:episodes)

Food & Drink

Our beautiful new site has huge food and drink improvements. We're further expanding our range of food traders and can guarantee that a new, larger range of all kinds of food (including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options) will be available right through the festival in our new Food Court area, at competitive prices. We're using festival bar specialists to run multiple bars at the site, including a new, bigger, real ale bar, with more choice, premium bar with specialist options, and can bar, all with the same competitive drink prices and more bar staff to make sure you’re not queuing. We want you to have a great time without making a hole in your wallet!

Northern Kin's Beautiful Location

Northern Kin's location at the picturesque Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens is both rural and within easy access of nearby Durham City Centre and main road links. For 2023 we have:

THREE stages of music, with two big top main stages and a bigger and better acoustic stage, giving lots more bands the chance to play Northern Kin.
Lots of exciting new announcements, coming soon.
Shuttle buses from all main surrounding towns and cities (see details further down this page).
Easy access by road, close to Durham City and main road links to the A1.
Quicker, easier access into the camp site, when you arrive
Much better and closer disabled camping access and day car parking.
Thursday night early arrival camping available again - arrive Thursday evening and get settled in early with no rushing over on Friday morning.
Much easier access with public transport links for non-campers and taxi drop off/pick up.
Lots of bars to save queueing and lots more tables and chairs and seating room outside.
Lots more of the very popular fire pit seating areas.
Dedicated bars for 2023 including real ales and premium options.
Room for more caterers and lots more variety in 2023 including more street food and vegetarian and vegan options.
Larger trader and activities show area - lots more to do and see, in addition to the music
A picturesque and much more secure, enclosed site, in a stunning location

Arena VIP

Arena VIP gives access to an extra special area with an indoor seated area and private bar within a dressed, luxury marquee with heating to keep things extra toasty throughout.

Throughout the day, unplugged singers will keep you entertained with a break in luxury from the main stages. Outside, a garden with outdoor furniture, manned fire pits, and a cover to protect against the elements will be available throughout the weekend. Please note Arena VIP is an upgrade ticket and you must also have an existing Admission Ticket.

Parking & Shuttle Bus services

There is free vehicle parking for non-campers, in the main site, next to the campsite, which will be clearly signposted on the weekend.

ALL BUS TICKET OPTIONS, ARE ON SALE ON OUR TICKETS PAGE, AND EACH TICKET RESERVES A SEAT FOR RETURN BUS TRAVEL, TO AND FROM THE FESTIVAL.
ALL BUSES WILL DEPART AT A SET PICK UP TIME (SHOWN BELOW, NEXT TO EACH PICK UP POINT) TO ARRIVE AT THE FESTIVAL BEFORE THE MUSIC STARTS, AND THEN RETURN BACK FROM THE FESTIVAL AT 11PM, AFTER ALL MUSIC HAS FINISHED AND ALL TICKET HOLDERS ARE BACK ON THE BUS FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY.
BUSES WILL RETURN TO THE SAME PICK UP/DROP OFF POINT. EXACT DETAILS OF DEPARTURE TIMES TO THE FESTIVAL EACH DAY AND THE PICK UP/DROP OFF ADDRESSES ARE BELOW:

Friday 28th April 2023

Hartlepool, 13.15, The National Museum Royal Navy Hartlepool, Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ - Coach Park & Middlesbrough, 13.50, Bus Stop outside Domino's Pizza, Linthorpe Road, TS1 3RB
Newcastle, 14.10, Bewick Street, Gateshead, 14.30, Bus Stop at bottom of Jackson Street (High Street end) outside The Metropole and Chester le Street, 15.00, at The Market Place, Stand M
Sunderland, 14.35, Cowan Terrace (adjacent to Park Lane Interchange) & Durham, 15.15, Sutton Street bus stop opposite Domino’s
Darlington, 14.20, Outside Dolphin Centre & Bishop Auckland, 15.00 Bus Station, Stand A

Saturday 29th April 2023

Hartlepool, 09.15, The National Museum Royal Navy Hartlepool, Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ - Coach Park & Middlesbrough, 09.50, Bus Stop outside Domino's Pizza, Linthorpe Road, TS1 3RB
Newcastle, 10.10, Bewick Street, Gateshead, 10.30, Bus Stop at bottom of Jackson Street (High Street end) outside The Metropole and Chester le Street, 11.00, at The Market Place, Stand M
Sunderland, 10.35, Cowan Terrace (adjacent to Park Lane Interchange) & Durham, 11.15, Sutton Street bus stop opposite Domino’s
Darlington, 10.20, Outside Dolphin Centre & Bishop Auckland, 11.00, Bus Station, Stand A

Sunday 30th April 2023

Hartlepool, 09.15, The National Museum Royal Navy Hartlepool, Jackson Dock, Maritime Avenue, Hartlepool, TS24 0XZ - Coach Park & Middlesbrough, 09.50, Bus Stop outside Domino's Pizza, Linthorpe Road, TS1 3RB
Newcastle, 10.10, Bewick Street, Gateshead, 10.30, Bus Stop at bottom of Jackson Street (High Street end) outside The Metropole and Chester le Street, 11.00, at The Market Place, Stand M
Sunderland, 10.35, Cowan Terrace (adjacent to Park Lane Interchange) & Durham, 11.15, Sutton Street bus stop opposite Domino’s
Darlington, 10.20, Outside Dolphin Centre & Bishop Auckland, 11.00, Bus Station, Stand A

What Can You Bring Into The Music Arena?

Folding chairs and picnic blankets can be brought into the festival but there will be a standing area close to the front of the stage where they can't be located.
Campers - you may bring food and drink on the camp site when you arrive, for personal consumption in the camp site only.
When entering the music entertainment area, a small food picnic in a bag or holdall is allowed (no rucksacks or large cool boxes, for safety and security reasons), plus one 500ml plastic, sealed and previously unopened bottle of soft drink or water per person is permitted. However, your own alcohol may not be consumed in the designated entertainment area due to licensing restrictions.
Free drinking water will be provided so you can bring in an empty reusable plastic or aluminium bottle for refills.
NO GLASS or metal utensils are allowed on the site due to Health & Safety restrictions.

Information for our disabled guests

If ordering camping tickets, if you are a Blue Badge Holder you can also order a free Disabled Camping Area Permit (in addition to your camping tickets) which permits you to camp in the Disabled Camping Area, located closest to the music entertainment area.
If you need accompanying by a carer, a free carers ticket is available. Please email us via our Contact Page to confirm your details and ticket(s) order number and we will email you back a link to download one free carers ticket.
Disabled toilet facilities are available throughout the festival site.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed but must be kept on a lead at all times, with any fouling picked up and disposed of in the appropriate area. If your dog shows any signs of distress when near the music area please remove them for their welfare.

Security & Medical

There will be full 24 hour security and a medics team on site throughout the weekend.

Site Access Times

Day Visitors
Friday Access: 3pm – Midnight
Saturday Access: 11.00am – Midnight
Sunday Access: 11.00am – Midnight

Campers*
Thursday Early Arrival Access: 5pm -11pm
Friday Access: 12noon - 8pm
Saturday Access: 8am - 5pm
Sunday Access: 8am - 5pm

* The above times are for vehicle access in order to enter the site and set up your camping pitch. If you cannot access camping between these times just email us and we will make special arrangements for you to come in at a time convenient to you.

Directions from the North

FESTIVAL MUSIC SITE, ALL CAMP SITES & DAY VISITOR PARKING

From the North A1(M):
Exit the A1(M) at junction 63. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit "A167" through Chester-le-Street. Continue on A167 south for 8.4 miles, past the roundabout for the park and ride, and past the roundabout which crosses the A691.

Continue southwards on A167 past Durham Johnston school on the left, prepare to turn right at the next set of traffic lights.

After turning right at the traffic lights, continue for 2.6 miles through and past Bearpark. The festival site is on your right.

Directions from the South

FESTIVAL MUSIC SITE, ALL CAMP SITES & DAY VISITOR PARKING

From the South A1(M):
Exit the A1(M) at junction 60. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto A689. In 2.5 miles at the roundabout take the 4th exit onto A167 north. Continue on A167 north for 8.7 miles to Neville's Cross traffic lights, past Chilton, Ferryhill, Thinford and Croxdale.

At Neville's Cross traffic lights continue northwards on A167, under a footbridge, and passing a veterinary practice on the left. When you see a small Sainsbury's store on the left, indicate to turn left at the next traffic lights.

After turning left at the traffic lights, continue for 2.6 miles through and past Bearpark. The festival site is on your right.

Items Prohibited From The Event

Items Prohibited from all Areas of the Event:

Aerosols over 500ml, Air horns, Fireworks, Flares, Glass of any sort, Illegal Substances, Drugs, "Legal Highs" (as covered by PS16 Legislation or as otherwise determined by Security, including, for clarification, Nitrous Oxide), Unidentified Substances, Any Other Illegal Item, Laser Equipment, Laser Pens, Megaphones or any other item designed specifically to amplify sound, Chinese Lanterns or similar items, Petrol Burners, Sound Systems or Other Speakers, Tabards or other items of high visibility.

Items Prohibited from the Arena but Permitted within the Campsite:

Bags larger than an A4 size, Bags or other Carriage Items which cannot be fully searched or split to allow searching, Alcohol of any kind, Camping Equipment including any type of cooking equipment, Any drink in a container capable of holding more than 500ml or any drink where the seal applied by the manufacturer has been broken.

Right to Refuse Possession:

The organisers of Northern Kin Festival, in line with their belief that safety of the overall event and it's attendees should be prioritised above the convenience or wishes of any one person, reserve the right for any representative, including but not limited to any authorised security personnel, to refuse permission to any person access to the event or any area within that event while in possession of any item which they or their representative deem to be unsafe, undesirable or unwelcome in any way. The decision of Management in this respect is final and there is no recourse, other than the consumers' statutory rights, which are respected throughout.

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