Beer fest returns to Haymarket this year
BEER-LOVERS can look forward to an event featuring more than 200 real ales in cask when a city festival returns soon.
After the excesses of Christmas and a relatively dry January, drinkers will be able to get back in the swing of things when the 20th annual Leicester Beer Festival takes place in February.
Along with the huge selection of real ales, visitors will also have the choice of 40 ciders and perries.
Main festival supporter, Everards of Leicestershire, will return with its popup pub, serving five Everards ales, including two seasonal specials.
Also returning will be the Travelling Juniper Berries speciality gin and Prosecco bar, provided by The Black Horse at Aylestone, featuring around 50 gins, many from local independent producers.
There will also be a selection of hot and cold food and snacks.
The event, organised by the Leicester branch of the Campaign for Real Ale takes place from Wednesday, February 26 to Saturday, February 29, 2020.
It will have a theme of 20/20 Vision, which was chosen by the branch’s almost 2,000 members.
The character Melvin the Mole has been designed for the event and will feature on all the publicity, posters, T-shirts and festival glasses.
The beer fest will once again be held at Leicester’s Haymarket Theatre.
It moved there in 2017 and was one of the first events to be held at the venue when it reopened, having been closed since 2007.
Local businesses are being offered the opportunity to sponsor the event, with a variety of packages available ranging from sponsoring a cask of ale through to featuring in the festival guide.
In addition, early bird packages are being made available for booking through the Haymarket website.
Opening hours for the festival will be:
■ Wednesday, February 26, 5pm to 11pm;
■ Thursday,
11pm;
■ Friday, February 28, 11am to 11pm;
■ Saturday, February 29, 11am to 10pm.
Admission will be £5 (Camra members £2) with free admission to all after 5pm on Saturday.
A £15 package including admission, a festival glass and £7 of beer token cards will be available to be purchased at the door.
February 27, 11am to