Bristol Hostel Weekend - Balloon Fiesta
It's been a while, but we are back in Bristol for the 47th Bristol Balloon Fiesta! Great value hostel accomodation in the heart of Bristol
We have booked dormitorys at the YHA Bristol for our weekend visit. You can arrive any time from 3pm on the Friday afternoon. The plan will be to have dinner in the hostel about 7pm, and outline plans for the rest of the weekend, then explore some of the many bars nearby, or attend Nightglow.
Plans will need to be flexible based on the weather, and people may decide to do other things if the weather is inclement. I will provide a range of options nearer the time.
The Itinerary is below, they won't change it much as this is a tried and tested formula now in its 47th year. Everything is however weather dependent and we will be keeping an eye on social media. There are shuttle buses from the centre to the fiesta site, it's also walkable, sometimes it's best to go on the bus and return on foot because of everyone wanting to leave at the same time after Nightglow!
I'm hoping some local members will join us at the Fiesta site, and if we arrange any other excursions. There is an Early Booking Discount available until 27 April, after which prices increase by £15
Guests & Non Members who are new to Spice are welcome to book at a £36 supplement though they may prefer to join to obtain the member rate and any deals that may be available at the time of booking/joining. Please call your local office to enquire about booking as a guest.
Includes
- 3 nights bed and breakfast at YHA Bristol
- 1 dinner (at YHA) on Friday night
- 3 packed lunches (Saturday/ Sunday/ Monday)
- Spice Host
Extras
- Dinner on Saturday and Sunday
- Drinks
- Shuttle bus tickets if required
- optional excursions (TBC)
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is a free to attend, three-day event that celebrates the city and its heritage links to the remarkable world of hot air ballooning.
From Friday 8th to Sunday 10th August, the rolling hills of Ashton Court on the outskirts of the city of Bristol are home to a temporary playground of entertainment, and a stage set ready and waiting for over 100 hot air balloons to take flight.
This iconic event has been a steadfast in the UK’s event calendar for more than four decades. With the city of Bristol playing the best matched host as the birthplace of ballooning in Europe, and now the capital of the sport worldwide.
Over the years, the impact of the event has grown far beyond the initial ambitions of a group of friends in 1979. It is now a Bristol institution, and is a synonymous icon, representing the region around the world.
Location & Itinerary
Balloon Fiesta Itinerary
Friday 8th
Please note that all timings for every element of the entertainment schedule are subject to change due to weather conditions so please follow our social media channels for the latest updates.
Scheduled Mass Ascent (weather permitting) 6:00 am
In The Clouds Opens 6:00 am
Historic Balloons 8:45 am
BIMM Moon Stage Opens 12:00 pm
Historic Balloons 12:45 pm
Inflation Race 2:30 pm
Meet the Pilot 3:30 pm
Schedule Mass Ascent (weather permitting) 6:00 pm
Nightglow :00 pm
Saturday 9th
Scheduled Mass Ascent (weather permitting) 6:00 am
In The Clouds Opens 6:00 am
Historic Balloons 8:45 am
BIMM Moon Stage Opens 12:00 pm
Historic Balloons 12:45 pm
Inflation Race 2:30 pm
Meet the Pilot 3:30 pm
Scheduled Mass Ascent (weather permitting) 6:00 pm
Nightglow 9:00 pm
Sunday 10th
Scheduled Mass Ascent (weather permitting) 6:00 am
In The Clouds Opens 6:00 am
Historic Balloons 8:45 am
BIMM Moon Stage Opens 12:00 pm
Historic Balloons 12:45 pm
Inflation Race 2:30 pm
Meet the Pilot 3:30 pm
Scheduled Mass Ascent (weather permitting) 6:00 pm
Other Activities
We will provide suggestions/ options across the weekend as the amount of time we spend at fiesta may be decided by the weather!
Travel & Stay
A former waterfront grain house, YHA Bristol has been sympathetically restored to offer relaxed, well-appointed accommodation amongst city-centre surroundings, ideal for a cheap city break or weekend away.
The hostel’s bustling bar and stylishly decorated reception area is a great place to meet up with friends and make plans for your stay. It complements the industrial feel to the building and embodies both the vibrancy and quirkiness of Bristol as a destination. Plus, the hostel is also close to a number of the city’s very best attractions and eateries.
A typical shared dorm room includes bunk beds, a reading light and a storage cupboard for each guest. We have booked some rooms with ensuite facilities so you will be sharing a bathroom only with the other people in your room who will all be Spice members. A couple of the dorms do not have ensuite but there are plenty of bathrooms on all floors. All rooms are on floor 2 or 3, but there is a lift. The dorms mainly sleep 4 but one of them sleeps 6.
Breakfast is served to guests from 07:30-10:00 at weekends.
Other meals are available between 10:00 - 20:30. Licensed bar: This hostel has a licensed bar offering a range of alcohol and soft drinks. It is not possible for guests to bring their own alcohol. There is free Wi-Fi in social spaces.
Parking: There is no parking at the hostel. Recommend parking is at Apex Parking on Prince Street, BS1 4QF. There is a special rate of £12 for a 24 hour stay for YHA guests. To receive this rate guests will need access to a smartphone to scan a QR code. Alternative parking is available at Millenium Square, The Grove, or Wapping Wharf, all less than 5 minutes walk from the hostel.
By Rail: It's around 15 minutes walk from Bristol Temple Meads station to the Hostel
Shuttle Buses to the Festival site
Should be booked in advance. When we have numbers booked on, we can make our purchase. They are £7.50 individually or £20 for a group of 5 travelling together.
| Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Member EBD Dormitory Share | £225.00 | Sold Out |
| Member EBD Dormitory Share with En Suite | £235.00 | Sold Out |
| Member FEMALE Dormitory Share with En Suite | £250.00 | Available |
| Member MALE Dormitory Share with En Suite | £250.00 | Sold Out |
Not enough spaces left for you? Join the waitlist
Host & Everything Else
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