CAMRA Beer FestivalOnce again we are indebted to the South Cheshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale who will be running the Nantwich Beer Festival (now in it’s eighth year) as part of the Nantwich Food and Drink Festival. The CAMRA Nantwich Beer Festival, one of the largest in Cheshire, opens at 5pm at Nantwich Civic Hall on Friday 25 September. Entry is completely free of charge to the daytime sessions on the Saturday and Sunday. Opening times and prices are as follows (held for several years):  | Fri 25 Sep | 5pm to 11pm | £3 | Sat 26 Sep | 11am to 5pm | FREE | Sat 26 Sep | 5pm to 11pm | £3 | Sun 27 Sep | 12noon to 5pm | FREE |
CAMRA Members receive a concession on paying sessions. There will be around 70 beers and ciders available. As in previous years, all the Cheshire breweries will be represented and there will also be beers from the surrounding areas (we’re supporting the CAMRA LocAle initiative). List of beers here  | The guest region will be “Robin Hood country”, predominantly beers from Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting the Champion Beer of Cheshire competition again, this is an award eagerly sought after by the local brewers. |
There will be live music for both evening sessions: Tar Very Much will play at the festival on the Friday evening and Cold Flame will feature on Saturday evening. The Saturday afternoon will, as previously, be the family session. Sunday will be the “quiet” session, an ideal time to chat and read the papers whilst drinking some excellent beer. Festival staff (all volunteers) will be in emergency services fancy dress on Friday evening and on Saturday evening (to fit in with the guest region) it’ll be Robin Hood theme. Should any visitors wish to join in with the fancy dress themes then they will be very welcome.
The Beer Festival charity will once again be St Luke’s Hospice. We look forward to welcoming back our “festival regulars” and introducing “first timers” to the pleasure of drinking real ale! Real Ale Trail - Running throughout September will be the very popular Real Ale Trail, featuring 35 pubs in the south Cheshire area, with prizes sponsored by local breweries and pubs. More details to follow. Also of interest to beer lovers are the visits of 2 renowned beer experts to Nantwich 2009: beer expert and author Pete Brown - signed copies of his latest book Hops and Glory will be on sale to visitors - and beer chef Richard Fox who is helping to promote the Love Food Hate Waste message. Both are appearing on Festival Island. | 
