Visitors Set To Flock to the Derby Beer Festival
Derby is normally referred to as the Real Ale capital of England and in terms of it’s reputation for beer quality, appears to be the city to visit or live if you want an ‘all-year-round’ beer festival.
This point is clearly emphasised in the month of July when locals and visitors alike arrive on the Midlands Beer Capital for the annual Derby Beer Festival.
The festival takes place at the Derby Assembly Rooms with beer-lovers ready and willing to devour the excellent range of real ales, cider, Perry, bottled conditioned and European beers on offer. With over 100 traditional ales from all over the United Kingdom available across its 5-day duration, there is something for everyone. Each session of this event is accompanied by musical entertainment in the form of folk, rock and tribute acts.
The main hall is where many of the beers are located but the Darwin suite is also utilised and hosts a changing variety of beer from local and semi-local breweries. In fact the Darwin suite is very popular due to it’s slightly more intimate feel .
Food is available throughout the festival but over recent years , this has been expensive and of poor quality. Either take your own or eat before you go in (or have that customary annual kebab on your journey home).
This annual festival is operated by volunteers from the Derby branch of The Campaign for Real Ale, or CAMRA as it is often referred to . Founded in 1971 as a non-profit consumer group , CAMRA has fought and won many battles to preserve traditional Ale and the traditional pub. It was set up to fight for consumers’ rights and recent victories being to highlight pubs serving short measures and to break-up the monopolies of large beer conglomerates.
The economic recession and additional alcohol duty has seen a radical reduction in profitable pubs across the UK with many closing or diversifying their business organisation. This has been a difficult time for CAMRA who continue to stick up for the rights of Ale lovers and pub landlords alike.
The 33rd Derby Beer Festival will be held at the Derby Assembly Rooms between Wednesday 7th and Sunday 11th July 2010 and this is the very first year when the festival will be open all day on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday (11.30 – 23.00).
For full information on this excellent festival, visit http://www.derbybeerfestival.co.uk
It is planned that the opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday evening at 1815 in the Derby Market Place adjacent to the Assembly Rooms by the Mayor of Derby, the Beer King plus a Private Derby-Mercian Regimental Mascot.
The summer Derby Beer Festival is complemented by a smaller but just as enjoyable Winter Beer Festival. This event also takes place at the Derby Assembly Rooms in the cosy Darwin Suite every February.
