FAQs

Just to get this out of the way…

What is “goth”?
*sigh* This questions (aka “WIG”) is one of the most common, yet difficult to answer, questions. So I won’t try. Pete Scathe does a good job though.

WGW

About the WGW

What is the Whitby Gothic Weekend?
The Whitby Gothic Weekend (WGW) is an established and popular gothic festival located in Whitby, North Yorkshire, UK. The WGW’s official line is to provide musical entertainment with bands and DJs, although the culture of the WGW has far outgrown that simple agenda.
How did the WGW start?
Jo’s prepared a brief history of the WGW.
Starvox also have a very comprehensive history too.

About Tickets

Where can I get tickets?
Tickets can be bought online direct from us at our secure online shop, by post from WGW HQ, or from one of our official ticket resellers. If you can’t obtain a ticket from one of these sources because they’ve sold out, you may want to try asking on the forum, LiveJournal or eBay
Can I get day tickets instead of full tickets?
In one word, no. We have tried it in the past and it didn’t seem to work.
What’s the difference between Spa Pavilion tickets & Fringe tickets?
Fringe tickets allow you to exchange for a wristband (see below) that only allows you access into the specific Fringe event. Spa Pavilion tickets allow you to exchange for a wristband (see below) that allows you access to the Spa Pavilion evening event, to see the bands etc. If you bought your Spa Pavilion tickets early then you may have qualified for a FREE upgrade that allows you access to both.
What does my ticket entitle me to?
Tickets entitle the holder to exchange it for a wrist-band (see below) which should be collected from the WGW info stall in The Spa Pavilion.
Ok, what does my wrist-band entitle me to?
Wristbands are required for entry to the evening events at The Spa Pavilion & the Fringe events. Your wristband will be attached to your wrist at the WGW info stall after exchanging your ticket. Other events in and around Whitby may cost extra and are out of the control of the WGW.
I’ve bought my tickets from WGW HQ Online Store, Why haven’t I received them?
Don’t Panic! Tickets are sent out from WGW HQ in one large batch approximately 2 – 4 weeks in advance of the event.

Attending the WGW

Where’s the WGW info stall?
The info stall is in the foyer of The Spa Pavilion. When you enter by either the top doors, it’s at the foot of the stairs on your left. If you enter by the back doors, or come up from the basement entrance, then the stall is on your right hand side. You can’t miss it really, there’s usually a huge banner and a mass of people hanging about there. The info stall will be available all weekend, should you need any help.
Is there a dress-code?
Not as such, no. However, we expect a level of taste and decency.
Can I bring my child(ren)?
Children have been among regular WGW-goers for years. Of course, the UK’s licensing laws prohibit the sale of alcohol to or for people under the age of 18 (although exceptions do apply in certain circumstances, these will not be considered here) young people are more than welcome at the WGW. We do, however, expect you to behave as a responsible parent and determine when exposure to certain elements of the event is inappropriate for your children, and act accordingly.
Is The Spa Pavilion open at times other than for the evening events?
The Spa Pavilion is also open during the day for the Bizarre Bazaar and making enquiries at the WGW info stall. The Spa also has a bar and a kitchen open during the day for the sale of alcohol, soft drinks, tea, coffee and food.

Whitby

Getting to Whitby

How do I get to Whitby?
Check our travel links for more information.

Getting Around Whitby

Where is [insert place]?
Some of the more popular places are listed on the venues page Some other places of use or interest are on the other places page. For anything else, you could check the Yell or Whitby Online web sites, or perhaps give the Whitby Tourist Office (01947 602124) a call.
Are there any buses or taxis in Whitby?
Whitby town isn’t that big, and can be walked across in less than an hour. There are buses, but these usually serve the surrounding area rather than Whitby itself. There are a few private hire (minicab) companies in Whitby; there are no standard “black” or “Hackney” cabs.

Staying in Whitby

Where can I stay in Whitby?
Whitby has lots of accommodation, ranging from campsites to hotel rooms. We have a list of some goth-friendly accommodation, and Whitby Tourist Information (01947 602124) has a lot more. Wherever you decide to stay, book early as places can fill up very quickly, especially when new dates have been made available.
Will [accommodation] take goths?
You should contact the manager of the establishment to see if they allow you to stay. Some places have had “bad” experiences with goths in the past (shame on you!) and have been reluctant to take us again. There are a number of goth-friendly places to stay.

Things to Do in Whitby

What else can I do in Whitby?
Whitby is a great tourist spot, so there’s always loads of non-goth related things to do. If you need more information, your best bet is to get in touch with Whitby Tourist Information on 01947 602124.

WGW Web Site

Where is [information]?
The web site is continually updated with new information when it becomes available. It should be reasonably easy to locate any information you need, but if you can’t find it, you can try the search feature, or ask on the forum. If you still can’t find the information you want, you can contact the webmaster.
What happened to the old forum?
In early 2005 the server hosting the old WGW site experienced a terminal crash. Although we had backups of the core WGW information, the forum (being a dynamic and interactive entity) was unrecoverable. We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused, but our new system shouldn’t have this same problem, should such a situation arise again (fingers crossed that it doesn’t!)
How do I register a gravatar?
(Kindly submitted by PeteW)

  1. Visit http://www.gravatar.com/signup.php
  2. Enter your e-mail address (the one you signed up to here on the forum, and give yourself a password.
  3. Wait for the automated e-mail you get back and follow the link they provide.
  4. Click on the link “Upload your avatar now”.
  5. Click on the browse button in the middle of the page.
  6. Find the picture you want to use. No need to resize it, that happens automatically.
  7. Click on the upload button.
  8. Wait for them to approve it. This can take as long as 3 hours or even longer.
  9. That’s it. You don’t have to anything on your profile, it happens by magic!

If you would like a question answered, please ask on this forum topic.

Updated on 18 March 2005 @ 10:15 am