The Style Traveller

A fashion editor's guide to the worlds most stylish places

5 Reasons Why I Love Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion

Bonnie Rakhit Festival Number 6 5 Reasons Why I Love Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion

Where? Portmeirion Festival No. 6

Exactly? Situated atop a picturesque estuary in North Wales, Portmeirion is one of the most visited and quirkiest tourist destinations in the UK. For four nights and days in September the quaint, colourful village is transformed into a festival full of art, music, culture and partying.

Whether you’re into big headline acts on the main stage, dancing to DJ’s by the beach, listening to talks from authors and artists, doing paddle board yoga or quaffing champagne sat in a hot tub, whilst listening to a string quartet, there’s something for everyone at Festival No. 6.

Why? When Festival Number 6 asked me to be a brand ambassador at the start of the season it was total no brainer, I jumped at the chance. And this weekend just gone I went to the festival with Charlie in a Mercedes Marco Polo camper van and we had the most amazing, magical time.

Keep scrolling to see my Style Traveller photo diary of the event and 5 reasons why I love Festival Number 6!!
Festival Number 6 Portmeirion

One – The Incredible Location – Portmeirion Village

Portmeirion is the brainchild and lifes work of designer Sir Clough William-Ellis. After visiting Portofino, Italy in the early 1920’s he returned to his native home of Wales and set about recreating his dream Mediterranean village on the banks of the River Dwryd in Portmeirion. Today the tourist attraction is owned by a charitable trust.

There is no other UK festival that has such a beautiful and quirky location, it’s the perfect backdrop to an eclectic and vibrant event like Festival No. 6!
Bonnie Rakhit hunter boots festival fashion

5 Reasons Why I Love Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion

Where we stayed? I was very lucky to be given a Mercedes Benz V-Class Marco Polo specifically for the trip!! So we stayed in the motor home fields, which was such a great experience as it’s situated at the top of the hill and looks down over the whole festival.

Having stayed in various forms of lodgings during festivals, from tents, to tipis to boutique yurts, I can safely say the camper van is definitely the nicest one yet. You have your own running water, heating and plug sockets in the van, plus when the roof is up you can stand, which you can’t really do comfortably in tents and tipis. Also unlike in the boutique fields, there are minimal queues for the showers and wc because a many of the vans have their own facilities. I’m converted!

Above Bonnie wears coat and boots by Hunter

Bonnie Rakhit Mercedes Marco Polo Festival

Bonnie posing along side the Mercedes Marco Polo in Hunter jacket and boots.

 Bonnie Rakhit hunter boots festival fashion Festival number 6

The standard festival pose in front of a suitably muddy sign!!

Festival no 6 uk best festivals

The hotel and pool at Portmeirion, which doubles up as a VIP area and one of the dance music stages at the event.

 Bonnie Rakhit hunter boots festival fashion Festival number 6 chai

Bonnie enjoying a hot chai tea at Ghandi’s flipflop bedouin tent restaurant.

cloughs restaurant festival number 6 banquet

2 The Food and Drink

From banqueting tables at Clough’s restaurant (above) which are hosted by celebrity chefs, to quirky ways to enjoy your drinks such as the Ketel One Vodka, Bloody Mary and Expresso Martini making classes (pictured below), the food and beverage range on offer at the festival is excellent.

Having been to a few festivals this summer I do think No 6 and Wilderness have been the best in terms of quality as well as variety of food on offer. There’s everything from hog roasts, to vegan Indian, tacos, gourmet burgers, Raclette to fruit crumble! You wont go hungry.

Festival Number 6 best uk festivals Ketel one vodka bloody mary class

Charlie and I at the Ketel One Vodka – Bloody Mary master class.

Festival Number 6 best uk festivals Ketel one vodka

festival number 6 fanatic flag

3 The Super Quirky Music Stages and Event Spaces

The super quirky dance and sound stations are truly imaginative! From Virgin Trains’ oriental floating house music stage to indie bands at Into The Woods the music venues are so cute and interesting.

There are talks, comedy and lectures in the Romanesque columns of the main village square which is spectacular. You can visit artists and string quartets and authors in the colourful village houses and Town Hall.

Dance till dawn by the beach or watch illuminated processions by the Main Stage. The areas the organisers have created are fantastic and really make it feel like you’re travelling into different stories and worlds everywhere you go.

Outdoor dj festival number 6

The beach side DJ!

into the woods festival number 6

virgin trains floating dance floor festival no 6 fun Bonnie and Charlie

Dancing at The Virgin Trains City Limits floating music stage.

virgin trains floating dance floor festival no 6 fun

welsh national choir no 6

4 The history, culture and tradition

Not only is the village itself a grade listed area but the Welsh heritage is upheld in the form of the Brythoniaid Male Voice Choir singing national songs and modern tunes alike, such as songs by Rag & Bone Man, who also performed on the Sunday on the Main Stage.

But there are classical music gigs as well as the poetry forums, artists in session, dramatics and fancy dress, lectures from authors and wellbeing in the form of yoga classes and so so much more.

main stage festival number 6

The closing show on the main stage.

Illuminated parade festival no. 6 horse

5 The Jaw dropping Spectacle

Each night the festival hosts a light procession which you are all invited to join. From the torch carrying parade to the illuminated unicorn procession pictured above and below. Follow the parade through the village and up to the main stage with the giant illuminated, beachballs thrown into the audience.

Illuminated parade festival no. 6

The procession reaches the main stage.

Illuminated parade festival no. 6 heliosphere

The heliosphere

We were literally right underneath the Heliosphere acrobat with her giant spherical globe. She swoops and flies over the crowds to create a magical, mesmerising and memorable performance.

festival no 6 best UK festivals

Good bye from Festival No. 6  next stop London Fashion Week…

Bonnie wears coat and boots by Hunter

Bonnie Rakhit Festival Number 6 best uk festivals

For more of Bonnie’s Festival Trips from this season click here.

Or for more posts on Portmeirion click this link.

Bon Voyage xx

festival no 6 best UK festivals 2017

27 Discussions on
“5 Reasons Why I Love Festival No. 6 in Portmeirion”

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published.