The UK's biggest free festival seems to have suddenly got an awful lot bigger in the 2 years since I was last a visitor to Midsummer Common. But despite the increase in numbers and some very obvious drunkeness, the atmosphere seems to have generally improved. There was more entertainment laid on than I remember being the case in the past with no fewer than 6 fully programmed stages running throughout the day and with a multitude of stalls and sideshows on offer as well Strawberry Fair still represents an excellent day out.

The queues for the loos were inevitably longer than ever but that didn't worry me unduly as I was driving and so couldn't avail myself to the usual excellent selection of ales that are on offer. We ultimately settled in the Green Area where the small tented stage hosted a pretty impressive line up of festival favourites and although the skies remained sullen throughout there was never enough rain to worry us unduly and we were able to sit on the grass for the majority of the day.

I'm afraid I'm not 100% certain I have the names of a couple of the acts correct so if anybody is able to inform me otherwise then please feel free to leave a comment accordingly.