Loughborough & North Leicestershire CAMRA

Nottingham Beer Festival 2021

On Thursday 14th October 2021, the branch organised an afternoon trip to the Nottingham Beer Festival. (Officially the Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival) The festival this year was held at the fabulous new venue of the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground.

The four intrepid travellers made their own way to the festival using a variety of buses, which all stopped right outside the festival: Nottingham 1 from Loughborough and East Leake and Kinch 9 from Loughborough.

On the day, the admission price was £10 and this included 12 beer tokens for CAMRA members, equivalent to 2 pints (approx. £7.20). So admission was effectively £2.80. On Friday and Saturday, the admission price was £20 with the same 12 beer tokens included, making admission effectively £12.80 on these days. Are you surprised we chose to go on Thursday?

There were about 600 real ales on offer, spread over two main bar areas. There were also many reserve casks. From our branch area, there were two from Moonface (Shine On and 1840 Porter) with the London porter in reserve. There was just one beer from Charnwood (Blue Fox) which may not have been the best choice to send to a festival so close to the Nottingham Forest City Ground!

The main bar was a marquee situated between the Trent Bridge Inn and the William Clark Stand. This seating overlooked the playing surface, and normally on match days is alcohol free! The brewery bars were mostly situated here, with brewery bars from Blue Monkey, Castle Rock, Ferry, Lenton Lane, Navigation, Shipstones, Nottingham and Thorley & Son.

A second large bar was underneath the shelter of the Smith Cooper Stand, and this also housed the cider & perry bar with 187 ciders and perries.

The festival opened at 11:00am, and Chris arrived bright and early. Next to arrive were Steve and Dave on the Kinch 9, followed lastly by Keith who had missed his connection in Loughborough and had to make do with the slower Nottingham 1 bus.

Once having collected their beer tokens and met up (and this was easier said than done in such a large venue), the four proceeded to sample the beers on offer, taking just a short lunch break at the Memsaab stall near to the Dixon gate which offered very good curries, Indian snacks and wraps. I think it's fair to say that all the beer was in excellent condition, this being helped by wet towels in operation on all casks, and a very cool breeze blowing under the Smith Cooper stand!

Entertainment was provided on all days of the festival, based at the far end of the marquee. While we were there, the Carlton Male Voice Choir performed from 3:00pm to 4:30pm, followed by the band Change of Plan from 5:00pm to 6:30pm.

In no time at all, it was 5:00pm, and about time to make our way back home, and in the case of the author, another beer at the Moonface Brewery & Tap while he waited for the connection back to Barrow.

 

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