[This
article originally appeared in the January
2006 edition of Sussex
Drinker magazine]
I happened to hear the famous Buddy Holly
song on the radio this morning and started
to panic! Yes, by the time this magazine
is published, there will be less than a
month to go before the Sussex Beer &
Cider Festival at Hove Town Hall.
Thursday 9th March sees
the opening of the event with a session
from 5pm to 11pm (£3.50), one hour
later finish than previously. Friday sessions
are from 11am to 3pm (£3) and 5pm
to 11pm (£6). Be warned, last year
the Friday evening session was sold out
over 3 weeks before the event, so, if you
haven’t got your tickets yet, act
quickly or be disappointed. Saturday’s
sessions are from 11am to 3pm (£3)
and 5pm to 10pm (£4 or £2 concession
for students on production of Students Union
card)
Music this year is being provided by the
ever popular Karl Bashford
on Friday night and the party atmosphere
on Saturday night is being led by the big
band sound (I think that there are 11 of
them) of The Rhythm Method,
a very lively band specialising in soul
music.
Tickets can be obtained from the Brighton
and Hove Centres, Gardeners Arms (Lewes),
Evening Star and Sir Charles Napier (Brighton),
Buckingham Arms (Shoreham) and Selden Arms
(Worthing). Also, mail order is available,
write to SCBF Ticket Sales at 14 Clover
Lane, Ferring, Worthing, BN12 5LZ with a
cheque/PO made out to Sussex CAMRA Beer
Festival for the sessions required and enclose
a SAE.
After last year’s huge demand, this
year’s festival will be even bigger
with 200 different cask beers,
lots more cider and perries and the usual
comprehensive range of foreign and British
bottled beers.
A major innovation this year is
that in conjunction with some of the Sussex
brewers we are holding a small exhibition
on brewing. There will also be short talks
on beer and brewing by several of our brewers.
All this will be held in a room just off
our downstairs bar which will feature as
many beers we can get from our local brewers,
and not surprisingly called The
Sussex Bar. Also in this area will
be a Newcomers Bar, a small bar where our
volunteers will be enthusiastically advising
on Real Ale to our customers who have little
or no experience in this area.
We also aim to have our Products stalls,
including ‘Gorilla Munchies’
- real snacks from the US, and our CAMRA
Membership Stand.
In the upstairs bar will be the usual huge
range of beers from around the UK and on
the balcony will be food at very competitive
prices provided for the first time this
year by Windmill Catering.
Good news for smokers. The threatened smoking
bar has been lifted. Smoking will be allowed
in one of the seating areas near to the
downstairs bar. Smokers will need to follow
the smoking signs.
One service we can’t guarantee to
provide is that of a Dating Agency. However,
I have just been told that 9 years ago,
one couple started talking to each other
on the train home from Hove. They got on
so well that they started going out, then
got married and now have 2 children!!!!
Blind Date eat your heart out!!
All that remains is for me to wish everyone
a great festival and I hope to see you all
at Hove Town Hall.
Peter Betteridge
Festival Organiser
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