Cambridge Beer Festival
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The summer Cambridge Beer Festival is the longest running CAMRA beer festival in the UK having started in 1974. It is held at the end of May just before the Whitsuntide Bank Holiday. Its companion Winter Beer Festival, held in January, began in 1997. Both are run by Cambridge & District CAMRA.
[edit] Summer Beer Festival
The summer beer festival has been held at a number of locations in Cambridge. It began at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in 1974 and remained there until 1982. After skipping a year in 1983, it moved between the Guildhall and Midsummer Common before returning to the Corn Exchange in 1988 (the 14th festival). In 1993, it moved to the Cambridge City Football Club ground just off Milton Road where it became an outside festival in huge marquees. During its residency at the football ground time it grew (helped by not being limited by a fixed building) and settled into its now established time of year at the end of May (having previously been held in August).
In 2001 (the 28th festival) it moved to Jesus Green where it has remained ever since. Since moving to Jesus Green it is grown significantly. The location attracts a lot more passing trade than the football ground. The festival is now the third largest in country in terms of visitors (behind the Great British Beer Festival and the Peterborough Beer Festival). In 2006 it had over 170 real ales, 50 ciders and perries as well as a large range of foreign beers and country wines.
The beer festival is also famous for its cheese stall which, unlike many food stalls at beer festivals, is run by the CAMRA branch themselves. The stall sells a wide range of traditional cheeses and breads as well as olives, pickled eggs, pork pies, scotch eggs, etc.
Like all CAMRA beer festivals, the festival is organised and staffed entirely by volunteers. Staff get free food and cheap beer; the work is intensive, but fun.
[edit] Winter Beer Festival
The winter Beer Festival is held at the end of January at the University Sports and Social Club, having previously been held at Anglia Ruskin University.
