Yesterday,
Friday, I was supposed to be attending the
Great
British Beer Festival. This was because I
managed to obtain a
Press Pass, in my capacity of a blog writer/owner, that
entitled me to free admission to the event. I was therefore looking forward,
believe it or not, to experiencing this iconic event, in its new home. The
“new
home” tag refers to the festival’s move from
London Olympia to
Birmingham’s National
Exhibition Centre (NEC). This follows an 11-year run at
Olympia (although the
2020 & 2021 events were cancelled, due to
COVID)
– alternating somewhat in the early days,
between
Olympia and the now demolished,
Earl’s Court. Problems last year, affecting the availability
of
Olympia, led to cancellation of the
2024 festival, leaving
CAMRA looking for
a new site.
The move to the
NEC made perfect sense, given its more
central location, and associated ease of access, but having attended numerous,
work-related trade-events at this venue, I had my doubts. These were related to
the structure of the
NEC, rather than the venue itself, as like most exhibition
halls (and I’ve been to several overseas events, as well), the place is pretty soulless,
consisting in the main, of a series of connected metal
“sheds”. Despite these
misgivings, I was determined to give the new venue a go, and if I’d got my a*se
in gear sooner, I would definitely have gone. Distracted by other things, and
taking my eye of the ball last weekend, meant that the
£30 Advanced Return
ticket I could (and should) have bought at the end of
July, would now cost me
more than double that price!
This put a whole different spin on things, and whilst I
still could have afforded that price, I like to get value for money, and a
100%
increase in the rail fare, didn’t tick that box. Instead, I shall put that
£60+
quid towards a trip somewhere else in the
British Isles, and somewhere I haven’t
been to before, but have a serious longing to visit –
Totnes/Topsham, Hebden
Bridge, Newcastle, & Huddersfield are towns that look like favourites, at the moment.
Before signing off, here’s something to grab your attention, because when I
started writing this piece, Artificial Intelligence (AI) popped up on my computer screen, and asked me to describe what
I’d like to write. The programme I use is Microsoft Word, I’m not sure which
version it is, but as I pay a yearly subscription, I’m assuming it is the latest
version. Somewhat “tongue in cheek” I typed in “Great British Festival” and in
less than a minute, Mr Gates’s software came up with the piece in coloured text, below. Readable and accurate, apart
from not mentioning the change in venue, from Olympia to the NEC.
Frightening too, as it stifles creativity, and the effort needed
to research and write a blog piece in the first place. Is this the way the
world is going? Because if so, it’s going to put a lot of people who write for
a living, out of work. That doesn’t include me, as I write for pleasure, rather
than to make a living, but I am concerned that stifling the thought processes involved
with creative works, and the deeply personal input that writers and authors can
give, we’re going to be turning out a whole generation of automatons. Ignore at your peril, and don’t
say, I didn’t tell you so!
Great British Beer Festival
A Celebration of British Brewing Excellence
The Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) is one of the UK's
largest and most renowned beer festivals, organised annually by the Campaign
for Real Ale (CAMRA). Held in London, this iconic event brings together beer
lovers from across Britain and beyond to celebrate the rich heritage and
diversity of British brewing.
Event Highlights
·
Wide Selection of Beers: Featuring hundreds of
real ales, ciders, and perries from traditional breweries and innovative
newcomers.
· International Flavours: Alongside British brews,
the festival showcases beers from across Europe and further afield.
· Live Entertainment: Attendees can enjoy live
music, pub games, and a lively atmosphere throughout the event.
· Expert Talks and Tastings: Masterclasses, guided
tastings, and talks from brewers and industry experts offer insight into the
world of beer.
· Food Stalls: A range of classic British fare and
international cuisine complements the extensive drinks selection.
Who Should Attend?
The GBBF is ideal for anyone with a passion for beer,
whether you're a seasoned aficionado or simply curious to explore new flavours.
It is a fantastic way to experience British pub culture, meet fellow
enthusiasts, and discover the latest trends in brewing.
When and Where?
The festival typically takes place in early August at
Olympia London, easily accessible via public transport. For up-to-date
information on dates, tickets, and featured brewers, visit the official CAMRA
website.
Fun Fact
Since its inception in 1977, the Great British Beer Festival
has grown to become a cornerstone event for beer lovers, often referred to as
the "biggest pub in the world" during its run.
5 comments:
It was no GBBF for me this year too. As it has been for all of about the past thirty years except one when I saw an advert for it on the Underground, the hour or two I was there certainly not justifying the admission charge. All very different from 1985 to '89 when I worked for a few days at the Brighton or Leeds GBBFs.
Talking of "value for money" over the past fortnight I've been in Derbyshire with five beds and 3½ breakfasts for £152.78 and seven days travel for £8. I used 27 pubs but probably for the first time in decades had a day away without a pint !
I did go yesterday, Paul. Meant to be Wednesday but trip to Maidstone A & E intervened.
Mrs RM wanted to see a revitalised post-COVID Birmingham and hotels in Brum are a third of the price of London accommodation in August.
My view of GBBF is probably skewed by being a group of friends (4 females including Mrs RM, so their view may not mirror mine) and finding some really good company from Coventry who weren't too beer and microbrewery obsessed.
I'd have preferred to spend the 4 hours in Birmingham pubs, and the music was quite terrible (the venue's problem) but the real ale quality was superb, though we did stick to the stronger beers.
Hardly anyone was coming in as we left at 5pm for the 9 minute train trip back to New Street.
Martin, 4 hours spent in a few of Birmingham's finest pubs, does sound preferable. I wasn't that disappointed about missing GBBF, and deep down I'm wondering whether leaving the decision to buy rail tickets as late as I did, was a psychological one.
It certainly wouldn't have been worth, forking out sixty quid for, so in many ways I dodged a bullet, but glad to hear you were in good company to share the experience with.
Bonsoir mon petit saut. We missed you when we were in Kent. We went to the Fuggles but we did not see you there. We did not like because to us not an English pub. Can you find us better ones, but not the boring ones you write about. It also smelt of cheese and puppy dogs, Fuggles that is.
We were in Birmingham at the beer festival but it was too loud and modern. Beer was good.
In UK for another month but not doing Fuggles again.
Whoever thought the NEC would be a good place for a beer festival needs their head examined. It's the spiritual home of Alan Partridge staying at a reasonably-priced Premier Inn miles from anywhere but handy for visiting a leisure exhibition looking for a new yacht and going away with a caravan instead.
Every report I've read speaks of poor attendance and photos show groups of people huddled in the corners of the vast hall like gerbils seeking safety in the corners of their cage.
And the edge of Birmingham immediately rules out the large number of people in London who traditionally headed for the after-work session.
The irony is the specialist bottle and US stands were missing this year and whenever I've been to the GBBF in London they have been by far the most popular.
It's a tough call in these challenging economic times to justify paying top dollar to stand around an echoey exhibition hall in the Midlands drinking a variety of bitters.
I can do that far cheaper at my local 'Spoons, particularly when they have their excellent festivals on.
In fact hand over the organisation to Timbo - he's done more to keep real ale going in Britain than just about anyone else.
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