Robin Hood Beer Festival opens at Nottingham Castle

Robin Hood Beer Festival, Nottingham Castle

Beer drinkers from all over the country are flocking to Nottingham for the annual Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival at Nottingham Castle.

The event, which is in its 40th year, got under way tonight and runs until Saturday.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) expects to welcome 25,000 people to the festival, where they can sample not only hundreds of ales but also live folk and rock music.

Friday and Saturday are already sold out but there will be a free minibus running from the festival to Canning Circus, where the local pubs are putting on their own mini festival, including the Sir John Borlase Warren and the Hand in Heart.

Although they are hoping the sun comes out, Andrew Ludlow, Secretary for Nottingham CAMRA, believes the festival’s atmosphere will not be dampened by recent wet weather.

He said: “Once people are in and start enjoying the beer, you don’t actually notice the weather.”

 

Video: Andrew Ludlow and Tracey Sales, of CAMRA, talk about the festival

And organisers insist you don’t need to even like ale to have fun.

There is an electric atmosphere – it is a great festival

Tracey Sales, Press and Publicity Officer for CAMRA

Andrew added: “Even if you’re not necessarily an ale drinker, come along to the festival anyway. We have more than 1,200 beers and 250 ciders to choose from, I guarantee there will be something for everyone.

“The beers come from all over the country, we have fruit beers that sell really well with the ladies. We even have chocolate-flavoured beers.”

For more information visit the festival website.  All advance tickets are sold out, but you can still buy on the door at the event on Wednesday and Thursday.

The festival will be open from 11am on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All four days finish at 11pm.