Not just cider and beer, there will be gin and fizz too at Oktoberfest
THE Warrington Oktoberfest is taking place at Parr Hall, Warrington from October 24-26, writes Neville Grundy.
It is organised by members of the Rotary Club of Warrington and is an annual event that is attended by thousands, many of them returning year after year.
Happy drinkers will be able to choose from about 70 beers and 13 ciders and perries.
The Gin & Fizz bar will present a range of interesting gins, Fever-Tree tonics and Prosecco.
There is a variety of entertainment provided on all days representing various different types of music: pop, rock, jazz, an acoustic duo and the Warrington Society for Deaf People Signing Choir.
The success of the beer festival is heavily dependent on sponsorship as well as the generous support of the public.
It is all in aid of charity and over the years they have given almost £300,000 to good causes.
It is open in the evening on the first two days and all day on Saturday.
Entry is £5 at all sessions, and it is a pay-on-the-door event.
Full details of the festival are at www.warringtonoktoberfest. org.uk.
Warrington is about an hour by train from Southport (change at Wigan) and the venue is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Bank Quay railway station.
A MATTER OF IMAGE
CAMRA has thrown its support behind Nottingham’s Castle Rock Brewery, which wrote an open letter to BBC East Midlands condemning the use of stock images of real ale and community pubs to illustrate a story about alcohol abuse.
Camra’s national chair, Nik Antona, said: “It is completely right for Castle Rock Brewery to call on the BBC and other media outlets to stop misrepresenting cask ale and traditional pubs by tarring them with the brush of irresponsible drinking.
“Traditional pubs are the home of responsible drinking, providing a safe, supervised and social environment to enjoy a drink.
“Cask ale itself has a lower strength than wine or spirits, and represents a moderate drink of choice.
“The media should be more mindful of the unconscious bias they are creating in their stories.”
Doug Macadam, chair of Camra Southport & West Lancs, added: “Problem drinkers don’t choose real ale.
“Own-brand supermarket vodka is about nine or 10 times stronger than most beers and much cheaper if all you want to do is get drunk.”
Local Camra website: www. southport.camra.org.uk