Glastonbury 2016: What it's like backstage at the Other Stage

Freshly ground coffee, stage crew... and the occasional artist

Rita Ora backstage at the Glastonbury Festival (PA)

Even if you've been to Glastonbury a dozen times, chances are you've never been able to hang out backstage with the festival's numerous celebrities and artists (security guards have always made it notoriously difficult to get anywhere near the VIP's of this world and for good reason).

However, upon my fourth visit to Worthy Farm, I finally had the pleasure of going backstage at the Other Stage, wandering the box park-like area. Unfortunately, my time there was brief and they were particularly funny about photographs being taken by pesky journalists.

First off, the private band area - a place very few people are let in - is primarily just one huge tent with dozens of colourful box-offices beneath, each one covered in graffiti and posters from Glastonbury's past.

They're designated to certain artists, the names of each marked onto a Vinyl record, and contain tables laiden with drink. There are also sofas, one of which I perch on to interview The Lumineers - the reason I'm allowed back here.

Despite expectations of glamorous looking models, the overwhelming majority of people in this area were stage crew, the occasional artist strolling through (Blossoms were there, having just played a storming set on the Other Stage).

It was also noticeably calm, with a range of people - from young to old - standing around, having a good old chin wag. All the while Christie and the Queens were playing on stage, looking brilliant, even if I was only able to watch the BBC's footage on the TV screen within the compound. (The actual back of the stage is filled with band gear.)

Food and drink wise; while there is a bar, more prominently - in the middle of the waiting area - a barista was making freshly ground coffee. The Latte was particularly good, and didn't cost a penny, unlike everything else here.

There's also a canteen, with chefs cooking up various pastas for everyone; nothing too fancy, just a relatively nice area to chill out in.

Then there's the huge interstage area between the Pyramid Stage and the Other Stage. This is where everyone wearing a hospitality band - from guests of the artists to journalists such as myself - are allowed.

Surprisingly, this area is huge, with numerous bars, only accessible by a select few. The prices are, of course, the same as everywhere else, a pint of cider setting you back £4.50 and served in a flimsy cup.

In the middle of the field lies numerous tables and a wooden boat, decorated colourfully - as with everything in Glastonbury. More importantly, being able to access this area means the walk from The Other Stage to the Pyramid is half an hour shorter, as regular campers must march around this VIP area.

So, happy campers and TV watchers, that's what you're missing out on when you aren't among the privileged few who are either in a band or specially invited. Time to learn how to play an instrument.