A Celebration of Welsh Ale & Cider by Rich Gabe.
There’s still time to get your ticket and toast some of the best brewers and cider producers in Wales at this year’s Weymouth Octoberfest, held in Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room and organised by the West Dorset branch of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA).
The festival hopes to have around 62 Welsh beers and at least a dozen ciders from all regions of Wales including the Snowdonia park area in the north to the more densely populated cities of the South, taking in Glamorgan and Gwent. Welsh brewery Vale of Glamorgan will feature as our guest brewery bar and will not only have cask beer but a selection of their own craft beers.
Customers can expect a broad and diverse range of beer that truly reflects the strong Welsh growing beer scene. There will be long established favourites like Brains and Felinfoel to smaller niche breweries such as Cwrw Ial Community Brewing and former Champion Beer of Britain brewery Tiny Rebel. A full selection of Cider and Beer will be announced soon.
In the evening there will be music. Friday evening and will see for “one night only!” local Weymouth musicians “That Britpop Band performing as “That Welshpop Band ” expect covers of classics from The Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Feeder and many more perhaps even a Tom Jones number?
Saturday night see’s local talented solo performer Chris Davies who will be playing his own compositions alongside acoustic cover versions of popular artist such as Dire Straits, Eagles & Bob Dylan and piano complements of songs by the Beatles, Elton John and Super Tramp.
West Dorset CAMRA Chairman Bruce Mead who as well as being a volunteer at the festival is also looking forward to going in the evenings as a customer said “This year’s Octoberfest is shaping up to be a great event. The prospect of the largest selection of Welsh beers ever seen in Dorset has seen tickets selling faster than ever before. So, if you haven’t got yours already, don’t delay and get them today!
Former CAMRA branch Chairman and festival organiser Dave Harris said” I have been involved as a co-organiser of this festival since we took it on in 2005, it is time for me to take a step back though I have really enjoyed working with the other volunteers and am confident as a branch of CAMRA there’s a strong team to plan for events going forward”
Entry is by advance ticket only and costs £11 per session which includes a free pint of beer or cider, souvenir glass and programme. Sessions run on both days between 11.00-16.00 & 18.30-23.30 with entertainment in the evening sessions.
Tickets are selling fast but still available from the following outlets:
Weymouth: The Globe & the Dog House Micro pub and Chalbury Town Store.
Portland: The Royal Portland Arms pub.
Dorchester: Convivial Rabbit Micro pub.
On line: www.camrawdorset.org.uk
Or £13 from Weymouth Pavilion Box Office.
L-R. Rich Gabe , Bar Manager, Dave Harris Committee Chair & Alex Bardswell Cider Rep. Photo Credit. Harry Walton.
