Cornbury is an aristocrat among festivals.

Set up four years ago on the sweeping lawns of Lord and Lady Rotherwick's magnificent stately pile, in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, this lovely gathering has acquired a reputation as the discerning music-lover's festival of choice.

But its pukka reputation is not only due to its location, it's more to do with the atmosphere and overwhelming feel of quality - in the food, camping, facilities, stalls, attractions, and above all, the music.

This year's event, on July 5-6, features the likes of KT Tunstall, Crowded House, Toots and the Maytals, 10cc, Beverley Knight, The Bangles, Nick Lowe, Half Man Half Biscuit, The Beat, and, incredibly, Paul Simon.

It is, by, anyone's standards, an impressive line-up. And with a third stage offering rock, country, pop, blues and folk from the likes of Smilex, The Epstein, Absentee, Easy Tiger and Jess Goyder, it really has come into its own as a platform for emerging talent - much of it local.

The event, dubbed the Rolls Royce of festivals, is the brainchild of rock promoter Hugh Phillimore - a man who has staked his reputation, and risked losing his shirt, on making Cornbury work.

Since staging the first bash, headlined by Blondie, this impeccably mannered gentleman of rock has sailed his own course, combining the best bits of other festivals, and adding a few special ingredients of his own.

And he has created an irresistible cocktail - concocting a major music event, which retains the charm and local links of a village fete.

After years of struggling to make the festival turn-a profit, this year Hugh looks like coming out on top. The combination of a burgeoning reputation and a stellar line-up has had the desired effect, with music-lovers snapping up tickets.

"It's great," says Hugh. "We are up 20 per cent on this time last year.

"It's a very crowded market," he adds. "There are over 400 festivals, and eight others on the same weekend as us, but I'm optimistic that this is going to be the best Cornbury ever.

"We have people coming here who won't go to other festivals. And we've found that however much we spend on promoting ourselves, the best promotion is by word of mouth. And people are still calling me asking if I am really putting Paul Simon on!"

What makes Hugh so endearing, and successful, as a festival organiser is that he is a huge music fan himself. You can't help but feel he has spent the past 12 months booking his own favourite bands - to create his own fantasy festival.

And, he admits there is an element of truth to that. Though, claims he spends far too much time running around the site trouble-shooting to enjoy all the bands he would like to see.

"Half Man Half Biscuit should be really interesting," he says, "And I've never seen Toots and the Maytals, so that's exciting.

"I also love great singer-songwriters so I want to catch Tift Merritt, and I'm quite a fan of Nick Lowe too. Paul Simon is also a really big name. It's the most money we've spent on an artist - but it has stopped people in their tracks.

"Whether I actually get around to seeing anything at all is another matter!

"The moment I really enjoy is the aftermath. when everything's over. Then all the anxiety drains away.

"And I love hearing from the many people who say they had the times of their lives - which makes it all worthwhile!"