We took our Vango Astoria 800 for it's maiden trip last weekend. Our tent was very hot, even with the main door on both sides open. I'm really not sure what to do about that TBH.
Keeping a tent cool is pretty much impossible but one of the main advantages of a bell tent is being able to raise the skirt when it gets to hot, just a note on screen doors - they block a surprising amount of air flow so best to open them too if your trying to get some air moving inside the tent. when the weather is really hot we also throw a wet towel over the cool box to help keep things cold.
Cabanon have a model of tent that has a completely separate flysheet over the tent which keeps it cool in hot weather - it really does work! Called the Bora Bora, used to be called Vis-a-Vis Luxe and you can pick them up on ebay, older ones go for as little as 50 quid.
Very hot in ours at the moment, I was pitching mine on my own when a nice gentleman from Holland called Peter helped me finish the pitching...now for a cold beer. Cheers Peter
------------- It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.
As for keeping food cool a decent coolbox and ice is the way forward, have often thought of the terracotta urn and water trick. the Pot needs to be unglazed though.
Have hung a can in a wet sock though in the past
The reason we changed back to propper canvas was because of the horrible morning heat of a plastic nylon tent. Wouldn't give them a glance now in a million years.
Early to bed and early rise is the best advise I can think of.
I have the Decathlon Tarp Fresh and it is great to sit under when it is baking hot as it has a reflective underside which really does keep the heat off.
So far this ear we have camped twice in baking hot weather we camped with groups both times and everyone else we camped with envied the tarp and how cool it was to sit under. Fortunately it is big enough to accommodate a lot of chairs underneath for sitting and chatting in the shade!
I leave the outer doors open when it's really hot and close the mesh doors on the sleeping pod. That seems to help it cool quicker at night.
We like woodland sites, especially so when it's hot. The trees give shade, and make the most of any breeze.
The biggest problem we find is keeping the dog cool. I resort to wetting her coat at frequent intervals, which helps, but she's not too impressed by the process itself.