Frequently asked questions

WHY COME TO Rebellion?

Put simply, Rebellion is the biggest independently run Punk Festival in the UK. Set in the historic Blackpool Winter Gardens, the festival offers over 300 live acts spread across 6 stages, including an 'introducing' stage for new acts, alongside a literary festival, a marketplace where you can buy clothing, band merch, records/CDs, handmade goods/artwork and much, much more. It is a great opportunity to meet friends old and new from across the world, have a drink in the numerous bars and enjoy the delights that one of Britain's top tourist destinations has to offer.

How can I contact Rebellion?

The best way is to email us at team@rebellionfestivals.com
A full list of contact options plus an address to write to us is available on our CONTACT page

What do I do upon arrival?

Take your ticket(s) to the wristband exchange located at the Winter Gardens Conference and Exhibition Centre entrance in Leopold Grove, where it will be scanned and exchanged for a wristband which will be put on for you. This will gain you entrance each day, so don't take it off at all over the weekend. Damaged wristbands may be exchanged but do not lose them because they cannot be replaced.

Please also note that you can only exchange your own ticket for a wristband and cannot collect wristbands on behalf of others.

DOORS - OPENING TIMES

Doors open at 11am on THURSDAY and 12pm on Friday / Saturday / Sunday

Re-Entry?

Once you have exchanged your ticket for a wristband you are free to come and go as you please. Towards the end of the evening security may restrict entry - ie at a 2am finish the last entrance may be 1.15am. This will be signposted at exit points.
Please also refer to the question below

Can I Bring a Bag into the Venue?

The short answer is yes, however as a rule of thumb, we would encourage people to only come into the venue with A4 size bags. Bag searches are conducted by security, as is becoming increasingly necessary by law, however this can cause obvious delays - the bigger the bag the more time it will take to search and no-one likes queuing!
Please also bear in mind that there are no cloak rooms or storage facilities at the Winter Gardens during Rebellion, therefore if you purchase any merchandise and decide to leave the venue, it would be sensible to drop this off at your lodgings before returning.

Smoking?

In accordance with UK law the whole of the venue is a no smoking area. The Winter Gardens also has a strict no vaping policy (the Fire Alarm system is very sensitive). Whilst in previous years there has been a dedicated smoking area within the realms of the venue, there is no guarantee that such as space will be made available due to changes in the environment surrounding the Winter Gardens.

Accessibility?

The Winter Gardens is a listed building with multiple venues on different levels and as such there are physical restrictions in what can and can't be done to accommodate accessibility. However, both Rebellion Festivals and the Winter Gardens are committed to ensuring that everybody has access to all areas and can provide advice and assistance. Please read our ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT  for further information.

Health & Safety

Your safety and well being whilst at Rebellion is our primary concern. Please read our statement here. 

Bars / Food?

Drinks and food are available from the venue, although Rebellion festivals have no say in pricing or menus. Bars are located in each venue, apart from the Opera House, which has refreshments on sale in the foyer area and circle bar (if either or both or open, depending on the festival's set-up in any given year, however you can bring drinks in from the on-site bars).

There are also several bars separate from the venues which provide their own unique atmosphere - the newly refurbished Mazzai Bar, the old school pub feel of the Old Vic and the Galleon Bar, designed to make you feel like you're on board a 17th century ship.

For purchasing food, the Empress Coffee Bar and Bistro provides somewhere to sit down for food and drinks, although there are several places selling takeaway food, such as hotdogs. The venue is placed in the middle of a busy UK town centre, so shops, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are all in walking distance.
https://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/whats-on/food-and-drink/ 

Are cameras allowed inside the venue?

Cameras for personal use are permitted. These are defined as small compact digital cameras or phone cameras etc. Professional or Semi Professional cameras including Digital SLRs are not permitted. The public are not allowed to take photos from the pit and no professional photographers or photography will be allowed, other than our Official Rebellion Photographers.

Who is playing and what day to they play on?

As bands are confirmed, we'll post them on the LINE-UP  page. We cannot confirm which day a band is playing until all bands are booked and the days / stages have been sorted out. So whilst a band maybe advertised as confirmed, please don't ask us when / where / what time they will be playing. We will update the LINE UP  page to show this information as soon as it is ready. Until this is up on the site it is not possible to tell you what bands play on a particular day. Whilst we endeavour to stick to the advertised line-up, please bear in mind this may be subject to change at short notice as sometimes things happen which are outside of our control.

Accommodation - Where Can I stay?

Please check out - www.visitblackpool.com
Blackpool is a busy UK seaside resort and has many Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts and Guest Houses. There are lots of hotels and inexpensive Bed and Breakfasts in Blackpool many of which are adjacent to the venue (check out Albert Road and Adelaide Street).

Travel Info?

Blackpool is on the North West Coast of England - the nearest major cities are Manchester and Liverpool, both of which have international airports and offer regular train services. Trains from London depart from Euston station, also providing a regular service, most trains requiring a change at Preston, with some direct services. The train station closest to the Winter Gardens is Blackpool North, which is approx. 11 min walk, although there is a taxi rank directly outside the station (there is a train station at Blackpool South, however it is a much further journey). Blackpool also has a coach station, but if driving, then take the M6 and follow signs.

For further information
Trains - www.nationalrail.com  or www.thetrainline.com 
Coaches - www.nationalexpress.com 
Flights to/from Liverpool Airport - www.liverpoolairport.com 
Flights to/from Manchester Airport - www.manchesterairport.co.uk 
Route planner - www.theaa.com 
Parking in Blackpool - www.blackpool.gov.uk

Can I join / help the Street Team - Can I have a job?

We are not an outdoor festival, so we don't really have many jobs going. If we have anything available, we will advertise on the site. However, we always need people to help flyer gigs and spread the word online. So if you would like to join our street team, please check out the STREET TEAM  page.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Something not covered here? Drop us a line at team@rebellionfestivals.com