Video: Nina Laible speaks about the boozy Bavarian festivities on offer
German beer festival Oktoberfest returns to Nottingham’s Forest Recreation Ground between Wednesday (October 26) and Sunday (October 30).
The beer revelry originated in 1810 when a royal wedding celebration enticed citizens of Munich to join in with a boozy, German knees-up.
And now, more than 200 years on, six million visitors flock to Germany’s world-renowned festival to lap up all things Bavarian.
Organised by London Oktoberfest Ltd, a huge marquee tent – with a 2,000 capacity – has been set up to entertain people with live music, food and traditional beer.
The beer on offer, Festbeer, is rated five per cent ABV and brewed according to German Purity Law in a 200-year-old brewery in the heart of Bavaria.
24,000 litres of lager has been driven in lorries from Bavaria because last year the 16,000 litres transported nearly ran out.
Nina Laible, from Germany, who is the booking reception manager of the festival, said: “We’ve tried to bring the atmosphere and culture here to the UK.
“Festbeer is from our old brewery which was founded in Bavaria several hundred years ago. It’s a dark lager beer and has about five per cent volume. We also have cider, red wine, white wine and sparkling wine and soft drinks.”
She added: “We start with a half-pint which will be £3.50 and then we sell one-and-a-half pints and, for really good drinkers, two-pint beers which costs £11.50.”
A selection of German delicacies are on offer, including schnitzels (deep-fried pork cutlets), pretzels (twist-knot bread), Händel (grilled chicken) and Schweinebraten (roast pork).
250 communal tables will be stationed in the marquee tent, each seating eight people, and there will be a stage assembled for live music.
All the staff at the festival will be wearing lederhosen and dirndl – and revellers are encouraged to dress up, too.
A band called Flashback will be playing live traditional German music each day.
The event is for adults, but there will be activities on Sunday for children – including a family lunch and face painting. 10,000 people are expected to attend over the five days.
Thursday is geared towards students, whereby entry is free and students can purchase two pints for £7.
Nottingham City Council has given the organisers permission to hold the event at The Forest Recreation Ground for the second successive year.
Harrison Shackell Green is secretary of Nottingham Trent University’s Real Ale and Cider Society. Harrison attended the event last year and will be going to this year’s festival.
He said: “The lager is fine, it’s a fairly generic German-style lager. It’s not one you will see around in any pubs.”
Matt Myers, a Nottingham Trent business student on his placement year, went to the festival last year.
He said: “It was a good laugh, in fairness. The beer was expensive, but it’s what you’d expect. I dressed up and got my lederhosen from Luv Ya Babes, in the intu Victoria Centre.
“If you go with the right people, a bunch of lads, it will be a good laugh. The beer was nice from what I can remember.”
Student Ben Brown thought the same, saying: “It was all right. The beer was quite nice, crazily expensive though. But I suppose that is to be expected.”
Entry is free on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday and £5 on Saturday.
