Planning your time at the Fringe

How to make the most of Ventnor Fringe

With so many shows on at the Fringe in can be hard to know where to start! We’ve put together some helpful tips & tricks to help you make the most of your time in Ventnor!

Whether you’re a seasoned Fringe veteran, or it’s your very first time at the festival, take these points on board and you can’t go wrong!

1.) Take a risk!

Ventnor Fringe features just about every artistic disciplines you can imagine so don’t just stick to what you know, get stuck in! Take a chance – after all, variety is the spice of life, and some of the best experiences come when you’re willing to take a risk and try something new! From Shakespeare to Bingo hosted by puppets, there’s something for all.

2.) Sign up for 2for1 tickets

If your going to see a lot of shows at the Festival it might be worth investing in a Ventnor Exchange Culture Pass. These can be purchased from for £29.99 and gets you access to loads of 2for1 ticket deals. It also means you can get the same 2 for the price of 1 deal on shows at the Ventnor Exchange all year. Bargain!
Sign up by going to our support us section on the website.

3.) Explore the Free Fringe

Sometimes the best things in life are free! Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to explore Ventnor during the Fringe and between ticketed shows. As well as the two main social spaces, Harbourside and Parkside, there are also loads of buskers, street performers, pop up shows and installations to discover.

4.) Book (some) tickets fast!

It’s always fun to explore on the day and see what takes your fancy, but if there are a few key shows you want to see it’s worth booking for these in advance as many performances will sell out. In particular look out for shows in smaller venues like Hygeia House, Pier Street Playhouse and Ventnor Arts Club.

5.) When in doubt, head to Ventnor Exchange

If you’re ever not sure where to go, what to do, or need some advice on how to work your way around the Fringe, your best bet is to head to Ventnor Exchange (11 Church Street, PO38 1SW) This is the main Box Office and information point where our team is on hand to help. Open 09:00 – 00:00 every day during the Fringe.

6.) Seek out the Fringe Review

Not sure what to see? The Fringe Review team are here to help!

Check out daily podcasts, videos and updates on social media or pick up a copy of the Fringe Review paper, which is released everyday and available to pick up for free in any of the main venues.

From 11:00hrs – 12:00hrs everyday at Harbourside there is also a chance to see lots of artists perform extracts from their shows, or take part in interviews and debates where you find out more about their work and decide what to see.