CREATING ONE OF THE FESTIVAL’S MOST IMMERSIVE LATE-NIGHT DESTINATIONS
Every great festival has those places that seem to exist in a world of their own.
At Glastonbury, San Remo is one of them.
By day it invites curious visitors to explore its wonderfully detailed surroundings. By night, it becomes one the festival’s most vibrant destinations, where world-class DJs, spectacular production and an unforgettable atmosphere keep the music flowing into the early hours. Behind the scenes, Area 51 has played a major role in bringing this extraordinary world to life.
A JOURNEY TO ANOTHER PLACE
Inspired by the faded charm of a vintage Route 66 roadside stop, San Remo transports revellers to a neon-lit world where retro-Americana meets the spirit of the Southwestern desert. Drawing inspiration from classic roadside diners, old liquor stores, weathered gas stations and quirky motels, every corner has been carefully creatively crafted to create an environment that feels authentic, immersive, earthy and full of character.
It’s far more than a stage. It’s an experience.
AN ICONIC FESTIVAL LANDMARK
Dominating the entrance is an enormous bespoke sign inspired by the legendary roadside attractions of America’s historic Route 66. Measuring something like ten metres tall, the spectacular signage structure stands proudly in front of a giant marquee, acting as a beacon that draws festival-goers towards one of Glastonbury’s most distinctive late-night destinations.
Designed as a large and dishevelled rural gas station, it is quite a vision.
Like so many Area 51 creations, the sign combines impressive engineering with scenic artistry, carefully finished to capture the weathered charm and timeless character of classic dusty roadside America.
BUILDING AN ENTIRE WORLD
Creating San Remo involves much more that constructing some scenery.
Indeed, Area 51 transforms the enormous marquee into a fully-realised environment, carefully cladding its exterior to resemble an authentic roadside liquor store and service station, complete with beautifully aged architectural details, layered textures and convincing period styling.
Inside, visitors are immersed in an environment where every surface contributes to the illusion. The bars, scenic facades, lighting and decorative elements all work together to create a destination that feels authentic from every angle.
THE MOTEL TAKES CENTRE STAGE
At the far end of the venue stands one of San Remo’s most memorable features. Area 51 designed and constructed an impressive motel façade that forms a dramatic backdrop to the DJ stage and booth, with performers taking centre stage beneath its glowing signage and unmistakable retro styling.
But behind the façade lies one of the venue’s most ingenious touches.
Visible through motel windows is a fully themed VIP area where invited guests, artists and performers become part of the scenery itself. Each motel room has its own unique identity, from bedrooms and lounges to a delightfully quirky bathroom set, creating the ghostly illusion of a motel still very much in use.
Rather than hiding the backstage experience, San Remo celebrates it, adding another layer of theatre and curiosity for the audience gathered below. Beyond the visible rooms, Area 51 also created additional VIP spaces and outdoor hospitality areas, all continuing the same beautifully detailed Route 66 aesthetic.
EVERY DETAIL MATTERS
Projects on this scale rely on far more than scenic craftmanship.
Alongside the extensive fabrication and scenic construction, Area 51 also integrates practical production elements including lighting, air conditioning, bar construction and technical infrastructure, ensuring the venue performs just as impressively as it looks. It’s this ability to combine creativity with practical engineering that allows the company to deliver complex immersive environments for some of the world’s biggest live events.
And on top of this, Area 51’s renowned visionary creativity and desire to never be dull means that each time the festival comes round, they are working around the clock to come up with new ideas so that each installation is never quite the same as the previous one.
The company simple refuses to maintain the status quo or play it safe.
FROM WORKSHOP TO WORTHY FARM
Long before the festival gates open, work is already well underway.
Extensive preparation takes place at Area 51’s Warwickshire headquarters before a specialist crew of around 20 technicians, scenic artists and craftspeople arrives on site for more than three weeks of work. Over an intensive 12-day build, the team transforms an empty festival plot into one of Glastonbury’s most recognisable late-night destinations not far from the Pyramid Stage.
Every beam, façade, sign, bar, scenic element and technical system must come together with precision before thousands of visitors arrive to experience the finished creation.
CREATING PLACES THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER
The magic of San Remo lies in its ability to transport people somewhere else entirely. It’s a place where music, architecture, storytelling and atmosphere blend seamlessly into a single, unforgettable experience. For Area 51, projects like San Remo demonstrate the company’s ability to create way more than festival scenery. They build destinations.
Places with their own personality, their own unique identity and with their own tales. And, long after the final DJ has played and the lights have gone down, those are the places that people remember most.
