Warrior having? There’s something for all tastes at Wigan’s festival
THE 33rd Wigan Beer Festival organised by the Wigan Branch of Camra will run from Thursday, March 5 to Saturday, March 7 writes Neville Grundy.
It will feature more than 70 real ales, draught foreign beers, cider and perry, live entertainment, games and tombola and a variety of food stalls.
This year it will also be operating a gin and prosecco bar for the first time.
It will be open at: Thursday 5.3011pm; Friday noon-11pm; Saturday 11.30am-9.30pm.
Entrance for Camra members is free at all sessions, while admission for non-members is: Thursday, free; Friday before 6pm, £1; Friday after 6pm, £3; Saturday, £2.
As you can see, membership does have its privileges!
You can join at: camra.org.uk/ join.
The venue is the Robin Park Sports and Tennis Centre, Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH, which is right opposite the DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic FC and
Wigan Warriors RLFC. As this is more than a mile from the railway stations, there will be a shuttle bus service using vintage buses between the town centre and the venue.
The bus is free, although donations are welcomed for the upkeep of the buses and service provided by the Wigan Transport Trust.
I’ve always found this to be a friendly and welcoming festival, and have worked there many times in the past, although this year I intend to go as a customer – you may see me there if you go on Saturday afternoon.
The festival website is beerfestival.wigancamra.org.uk.
Wigan has many fine pubs, but if you wish to have another drink before catching your train or bus home, I recommend Wigan Central Real Ale and Cider Bar, which is just a few yards from both railway stations.
It is situated in two railway arches and has seven real ales and four craft ciders on the bar, plus more than 100 bottled beers from around the UK.
It also stocks a great choice of continental and American bottled beers and a selection of quality lagers and wines to choose from. It’s at Arch 1, Queen Street, website w ww. wigancentral.bar.
The next Southport & West Lancs meeting is at the Zetland Hotel, Zetland Street, Southport on Wednesday, February 12 at 8pm.
Our website is www.southport. camra.org.uk.