Goodwood’s Festival of Speed has set Adhurst in a spin as we had to turn away a few potential bookings. Goodwood is 29 minutes from Adhurst by car and is a lovely way to enjoy up-coming Glorious Goodwood (30th July to 3rd August 2013) and my personal favourite Goodwood Revival (13th September to 15th September 2013). You get the best of both worlds – the high octane whirr of Goodwood and then the peaceful earthiness at the end of the day of lazing in your comfy bed in your yurt looking out onto the leafy woods.
I will definitely be at Goodwood Revival in all my 1940’s finery. It’s not the cars or the aeroplanes I like, but rather all the fashion and vintage hairstyles. There’s something for everyone – our boys love the Wall of Death which I found too terrifying to repeat (and that’s only as a spectator). The endless vintage shopping is like being set loose in a sweet shop. The food is all in keeping with the era – no hamburgers and chips anywhere as they hadn’t yet been invented. The Italians are in force with their Vespas queuing up for a quick shot of espresso. It really is a hoot. There’s even a retro Tesco which sells non-retro food amongst the retro aisles. You’ve never seen Tesco check-out girls looking so glam with their victory roll hairstyles. And then of course you will see no finer selection of vintage cars racing, planes flying, motorbikes, engineering, retro mechanic shops … anywhere else on earth. Goodwood is it. Guests fly in from all over the world and you can hear every language spoken as you wander about the stunning grounds and pitches.
I leave you with this though – after the buzz of it all it’s lovely to return to Adhurst and sit by the river listening to the chirping of birds and the gentle rustling of summer leaves all around.
It really is advisable to book your accommodation as soon as you’ve booked your Goodwood tickets as everything for miles around gets booked up, sometimes a full year in advance. Also, Goodwood’s Festival of Speed occurs at the same time as a lot of high goal polo at nearby Cowdray in the run-up to the Veuve Cliquot Gold Cup in July. So, Book Early! And come see the polo too!
