CAMRA Column
Pair of beer festivals to enjoy as signs of normality start to emerge
ASIGN that life is beginning to return to normal is the reappearance of beer festivals. I have news of two fairly local festivals, both easily accessible by train from the Southport and West Lancs area.
Sorry for the short notice, but the 33rd Wigan Beer Festival takes place this week from Thursday to Sunday, March 3-5, at the Robin Park Sports and Tennis Centre, Loire Drive, Wigan, WN5 0UH.
It is directly opposite the DW Stadium, home of Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan Warriors RLFC, just over one mile from the centre of Wigan.
In addition to the real ales, the festival will also be providing cider, perry, gin and prosecco. There will be live entertainment on Friday evening and Saturday. There will be quiet sessions on Thursday evening and Friday daytime for those who prefer to drink in a musicfree environment.
As usual, there will be a courtesy shuttle bus running at regular intervals from Wigan town centre to the festival venue provided by Wigan Transport Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to restoring and maintaining historic buses. Although there is no charge for the bus service, voluntary donations (via a collection bucket) can be made on the bus with all proceeds going towards the cost of providing this service and the upkeep of the vintage buses.
Admission to the festival on Thursday is free, and CAMRA members get a discount at the door at other times. For more information, go to: beerfestival.wigancamra.org.uk
The 13th Wirral Beer Festival runs from Thursday to Sunday, March 24-27, at Hulme Hall, 23 Bolton Road, Port Sunlight, Wirral, CH62 5DH. This festival is run by the famous Ship & Mitre pub on Dale Street in Liverpool. There will be over 200 beers, including 80 real ales and 80 craft beers, as well as continental lagers, ciders and a gin bar. Beers from the Ship & Mitre’s own Flagship brewery will be on offer as well as beers other great local breweries.
Entertainment will be available at all sessions, except on Friday afternoon which will be run as a quiet session.
To buy tickets, go to: www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/wirral-beer-festival-tickets-244374409437.
The national CAMRA website is at: camra.org.uk. The Southport & West Lancs Branch website is at southport. camra.org.uk.