Goodwood Revival

There is perhaps no more nostalgic, quintessentially British event than the magnificent spectacle of tradition and colour that is the Goodwood Revival. Steeped in history and alive with pomp and ceremony, this classical car show forms a key part of the British summer season and is renowned for its eclectic displays of vintage fashion, old motorcars, racing drama and retro food and drink.

Visitors – who come dressed in their best vintage and period finery – can expect to enjoy the thrills and spills of a traditional fairground, to shop on a recreated old-fashioned high street, complete with vintage hair salon and hundreds of wonderful vintage shops, to enjoy the style and creativity of the Revival Fashion Show, accompanied by music from the time, to watch vintage war planes take to the sky and to cheer as classic competition cars race around the historic circuit, their drivers dressed in traditional racing attire.

Each year the event is themed and organisers work hard to conjure up special moments from the past to recreate and recollect. Past Revivals have celebrated everything from the anniversary of the fish finger, to the bikini and an exhibit of post-war utilities like kitchen mixers. And that’s just aside from the incredible races the team put on each year, on the track, celebrating key moments in racing history and the legendary cars and drivers who competed.

TEAM EFFORT

Preparing for an event like this is no mean feat, and preparations take all year. At Goodwood there is a dedicated event team who look after everything from the grounds and the parking to the food and entertainment. Over 750 full time staff spend the year planning and building, designing and creating – attention-to-detail is second to none and many of the team are vintage experts. As Revival time nears, that number doubles, made up of stewards and catering staff, as well a dedicated team of actors in traditional costume, to add a real sense of authenticity to the day.

CREATIVE INSPIRATION

The Revival setting is hugely creative, with lots of replicas of vintage shopfronts, cafés, brands and more, as well as themed events each year to celebrate a particular era. Goodwood has a dedicated ‘theatrics’ panel who meet regularly to come up with the themes and anniversaries they’re going to bring to life each year, and decide how they will make each year ever more awe-inspiring and exciting than the last. In the past, the team have built Henley Regatta boating club, complete with the river Thames, a fully functioning farm and recreated the 1966 World Cup win.

Because of the unique nature of the event, a lot of the sets have to be built and recreated from scratch, but the team keep as much set dressing to re-use from year to year as they can. They even have a dedicated painting team, who spend the months before the revival painting the set to make it look old, and fitting in with the Revival period.

FOOD & FASHION

Absolutely everyone dresses up – in everything from late ‘40s to late ’60s style – meaning you’ll see Land Girls and RAF pilots drinking tea or cheering on a car right next to Twiggy look-a-likes and Beatles’ mop tops. Putting together your outfit is a major part of visiting the Revival and many enthusiasts use the event to shop for the next year’s show at the Revival Fashion section on the Revival High Street, where you can buy vintage clothes as well as shoes, handbags, hats and other accessories.

Food and drink is given just as much attention here too, with all the eateries decorated in an old-fashioned style, complete with bunting, tea sets, flags, tablecloths and doilies. The Spitfire Café gives a great view of the aerodrome and ‘Freddy March Spirit of Aviation’ Exhibition, while our favourite is the Mess – themed with long benches and bunting, and right on the start line so you don’t miss any of the action on the track. It’s a stand out event in every way – from the incredible detail and precision of the theatrics team, to the authentic food and drink at every eatery and the wonderful celebration of classical motorcars. Visitors can expect a real sense of stepping back into the past, of capturing the colour and magic of a time gone by, of coming together for a joyful celebration that feels truly, inescapably, British. As Radio DJ and major car enthusiast Chris Evans says: “I love this more than Christmas. I’m looking forward to every single race, every single nut, every single bolt, every single tyre, every single steering wheel. Best thing ever! I love it here.”

DON’T MISS…

REVIVAL FASHION

An area dedicated entirely to vintage style, with the added bonus of personal shoppers and the daily ‘Best Dressed’ competition, with categories for best dressed man and woman, best dressed family and best dressed sixties swinger!

MINIS AND MINI SKIRTS

As part of the Revival’s celebration of 60 years of the Mini, the Revival also brings the ‘Swinging Sixties’ to life in its inimitable way. Aside from some of the most daring miniskirts around, you can also expect the wonderful sight of several Mini Coopers, custom-built for each one of The Beatles, along with Cilla Black’s own Mini, all parked outside a recreated ‘Abbey Road Studios’.

CHILDREN’S PEDAL CAR RACE

As keenly fought as any other race, the line-up includes The Settrington Cup, a children’s race in Austin J40 pedal cars down the main straight of the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

THE REVIVAL HIGH STREET

A recreated sixties high street, with everything from automotive memorabilia to vintage clothing, will transport you back to another era, so you can experience high street shopping as it used to be.

This years event is 13 – 15 SEPTEMBER

► GOODWOOD.COM/REVIVAL