A food store is gearing itself up for a massive influx of customers as thousands of music fans descend on Castle Donington this week to attend the annual Download Festival. The Central England Co-op in Station Road is providing everything from cheap breakfasts to toilet facilities.
Store manager Matt Simpson said staff have missed people not coming and going from the Donington Park festival site for the past two years after the pandemic wiped out the usual event, which attracts at least 85,000 fans.
He said: "We’re so proud to be part of a great community in Castle Donington and it’s been a real shame not to have that same buzz we would usually get when the festival is on, and people are coming and going from the site over the last two years.
"We’re looking forward to welcoming back festival goers this year and are ready with some great deals on a hot breakfast in our café and food and drink in our store to keep them fuelled and stocked up for what will hopefully be a great weekend of music."
The fans calling into the store will be on their way to see more than 100 bands over the three days from Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12, including headliners Kiss, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro.
Festival goers can rock up to the store café and enjoy a five-item breakfast for just £3.30 or an eight-item breakfast for £3.90. They can also use the free toilet facilities and can enjoy breakfast in the store café between 7am and 3pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 10am-3pm on Sunday.
Last year, a slimmed down version of the festival took place with the Government using a 10,000 capacity event as a pilot during the Covid pandemic. As a result, everyone attending was camping and encouraged not to leave the site to get supplies.
