SkegMiniFest

SkegMiniFest is a weekend event (Friday noon to Monday 10am), a festival of Minis and their owners from all over the country, and a mini-festival with live performances from bands and artists from all over the country.

This is a different set up to most other Mini related events, in that it's not a "Sunday show" with club stands and the like, or a "camp on Saturday, show on Sunday" - the whole weekend is the event.

When is SkegMiniFest?

SkegMiniFest 2020 will be held over the weekend of Friday 17th, Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July 2020. Camping is open from noon on Friday until 10AM on Monday with live performers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Where is SkegMiniFest?

It's held in Skegness (hence the name), at the Welcome Inn, PE25 2LJ. More details and directions are available on the where are we? page.

How much does SkegMiniFest cost?

The cost of the entire weekend is £10 for a 12 by 22ft camping pitch for one car and one tent plus £15.50 for adults and £8 for under 12s with the Saturday night barbecue, or £10 per pitch and £8/£4 without the barbecue. This also covers your camping from Friday to Monday.

If you're not camping, you don't need to book but do note this FAQ, and if you don't have a wristband, you can't take advantage of the special SkegMiniFest food prices.

We've worked really hard to keep the price of the event as low as possible and we're sure you'll agree that for a Mini event this represents fantastic value for money.

Remember that the organisers don't make a penny from the event, proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support.

So why that price?

While it would be easy to blame it on Brexit or something similar, the simple fact is that our costs go up every year. All the profits from SkegMiniFest go to Macmillan, and keeping the ticket price artificially low would mean that they get less money. Not everyone provides the things we need for free.

There's more of an explanation about the changes to pricing at SkegMiniFest Pricing.

The barbecue is optional, which can bring your ticket price down; the special menu for guests only is great value for money. Don't forget, you'd pay this ticket price for a lot of one day events.

Why don't you do runs out?

To organise this event, we need to keep on the right side of the local police.

They have stated that they will not support any run organised as part of the event, and so we need to comply with that or they will fine us lots of pennies and lock us up for a very long time. This is a pity as there are some fantastic Mini-friendly roads we could take you on, but unfortunately it's just not an option.

However, unlike some events, we don't force you to stay on site for the duration. If perhaps the artist currently performing is not to your taste and you choose to leave the site, to go shopping, see local friends, or maybe just go for a drive, we won't stop you - though it's safest if there's a marshall about to guide you in and out.

All the above means that if you, as an individual or as a club, wish to go for a run out we will not stop you doing so, but at the same time "it's nothing to do with us".

If you do leave the site at any time, please drive safely, and please only drive if you're sober enough to do so. Skegness police know their job and do it well, and we want to see you back again.

Can I come as part of a club?

Of course you can. If your club books on your behalf, you'll be camping with them. If you all book individually, please ensure you give your club name when booking to make sure we keep you all together.

Please take note of the FAQs regarding camping, and gazebos/day tents.

If I make a booking for a club, can I add extra bookings later?

As long as we haven't closed the bookings, yes you can.

Due to the limited number of pitches it's easier if we know how many of you are coming in one go so we can make sure you're all together, but we understand that sometimes club members just can't make their minds up when they need to...

Do I have to camp for the weekend?

We'd like you to, we'd love you to be there from Friday to Monday, but we understand that for some people camping is not their scene or they're unable to stay overnight.

However, we have a restriction on the amount of parking available, so if you're only coming for the day we can't guarantee that you'll be able to park at the Welcome Inn or within close proximity.

Can I bring a camper van/caravan/motor home/trailer tent/glamping pod/very large tent?

Possibly our most frequently asked question. If what you bring will fit on the 22ft by 12ft (6.7m by 3.6m) pitch or pitches you book, then yes, but:

if you bring a caravan or trailer tent, it must fit on the 22x12ft pitch along with the tow car. If the two together are too big, you will need 2 pitches.
If your caravan or trailer tent is longer than 22ft from hitch to tail, you will need 2 pitches.
if you bring a camper/motorhome, it must fit on the 22x12ft pitch. If it is longer than 22ft (6.7m), you will need two pitches.
If any of the above apply, you need to let us know using the "additional information" box on the booking form.

Please note that there are no electric hookups and no Elsan point - the Welcome Inn is a pub, not a caravan park.

Note also that if we do experience inclement weather, we may have to place you on the car park instead to prevent you getting stuck.

Can I bring a gazebo/event shelter/day tent if I'm camping?

We've got a limited number of camping pitches, and that's exactly what they're for: camping. Each pitch must have at least one tent on it, that someone will be sleeping in.

We can't guarantee that we'll have room for such things during the event so we have to say no, but if we do find that there is spare space once booking is closed, and you bring one with you, you may be allowed to use it - first come, first served.

Can I bring a gazebo/event shelter/day tent if I'm coming for the day?

You could, but you'd be unable to use it. Unfortunately, as all of our space is given over to camping, we don't have anywhere for you to put one if you're there for the day.

As we say above, SkegMiniFest is not a typical one day show with club stands.

Can I cancel my booking and get a refund?

This is covered in our cancellation policy.

I've got a load of autojumble. Can I bring it and sell it?

Yes, feel free, as long as you can fit it on your pitch or pitches. We won't charge you to sell anything from your pitch, but of course we won't turn away any donations for Macmillan!

Can I have a barbecue?

No, no barbecues are allowed on site. This is partly for safety reasons, and also because the Welcome Inn really aren't keen on people burning their grass...

Small camping stoves are fine for tea, coffee, toast etc as long as you're sensible and careful - burn your tent, you'll have nowhere to sleep!

It's worth noting that the special SkegMiniFest menu is available to all our paying guests, from 10am to 10pm.

What are the showers/toilets like?

For the past few years, since changing companies to Enviro-loo, we've had only positive comments, something which cannot be said for some of the other events out there, including some one day shows.

We try to make sure that there's more than enough capacity for people camping with us but just like last year, the portable toilets are only for use outside the Welcome Inn's opening times. The showers will be available throughout the weekend.

Will the weather be as good in 2020?

Last year, we did the appropriate dances, the witches were under contract, arrangements were been made with the shamans, we had consultations with the old wives, made the burnt offerings, crossed fingers and pretty much everything else, and it worked - the weather could not have been better. If you were booked in but didn't believe us when we said it was warm, sunny and dry, you missed out.

Of course we can't definitely guarantee the same will be true for 2020 because - and some people still don't understand this - the weather really is something we can't control; but then, some would say it wouldn't be a festival without a bit of rain and mud...

Why do you run SkegMiniFest?

Mostly because it's a good laugh! More seriously, we do it to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support for all the fantastic work they do.

Pretty much all of us have either used their services or know someone who has, so we'd like to give back to them while having a bloody good time with other Mini owners from around the country.

frequently asked questions