In response to kev the clogs: (this is not meant personally, just wanted to clear some things up and perhaps make you see the festival from a different perspective)
I have been attending festivals for 22 years - in fact this broady was my 22nd....and I can quite honestly say that the overall feeling this year while ther are always things that could have run more smoothly, was one of happiness at a great festival with something for everyone - from the hobby horse club, to the trouser trumpets, to Cara Dillon, to Brett Marvin and the thunderbolts.

the buses are indeed only really intended for the bands, performers and the less able. Those if us of were organising buses almost constantly for others try our best to find transport for the weary and tipsy wherever possible. We really do. And please remember the drivers, and organisers of this service are ALL volunteers, working together to really make the festival what it is.
Alternatively, taxi's are CHEEP CHEEP in Thanet - especially when compared to a medway / maidstone price.

Pubs in Sidmouth are normally RAMMED. - I think that while you say that Broadstairs is a pale immitation of festivals such as Sidmouth - it does not try to be like Sidmouth - as a previous poster said - it is a stand alone festival which has a real 'feel good family friendly' factor.

Faversham while being a great festival for the morris (i've danced at it since 1990 or earlier - can't remember!) is a HOP festival and not a folk festival, so again comparisons cannot be made - and need i remind you of the nickname of faversham - Chaversham? Stand outside wetherspoons in chaversham high street during the hop festival at any time and you'll soon feel intimidated. And this coming from a girl who went to school in Chatham and is Medway born and bred. And the streets themselves become a health and safety issue - it gets too crowded and bottlenecked. But is once again a festival we all love and support as its local and traditional and long may it continue.


Deal, Sweeps and Tenterden are also really small festivals in comparison to broady - and I agree kev are all great, (especially for us crazy morris types), so to comapre these is just not really accurate.
The security on the camp site faced many challenges through out folk week - including successfully defeating a group of yobbos who crashed the site. And that was to the testament of those volunteers and employed security staff who gave up their free hours to patrol the site in high vis jackets to ensure the security and provde peace of mind for all. (in the pouring rain and not even a tiny bit near decent beer).

Long may Broadstairs continue in the way it does - it does provide something for everyone, and the mini bus service is something that just does not happen at some other festivals - so with all the extras and free fringe events that only require a donation, it truly is value for money in a gorgeous town in a lovely part of kent.

Hope you don't think me rude, just felt that i needed to reply!

Dillie x