Tickets for the 32nd Dorchester Beerex organised by members of West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Casterbridge Rotary Club go on sale December 1st. The ever popular festival will be taking place in Dorchester Corn Exchange on Friday & Saturday the 7th & 8th of February 2020.
Palmer’s brewery of Bridport will once again be the festivals main sponsor for the 6th consecutive year, with this year’s main charitable benefactor being Dorset Mind which supports local people with mental health challenges.
Sales and Marketing Director Cleeves Palmer said “Palmers Brewery is delighted to sponsor again the Dorchester Beerex in 2020. Palmers have now completed 225 years of continuous brewing at The Old Brewery in Bridport. During 2019, it was a thrill that our head brewer Darren Batten and his Brewhouse team won the prestigious South West Regional Championship for ale with our Tally Ho!
“The Dorchester Beerex is a coming together of ale lovers and everyone who attends helps raise much needed funds for ‘Mind Dorset’, an incredibly important charity that helps hundreds of people across the county who have sadly suffered from mental health issues.”
Marianne Storey, Dorset Mind CEO, said “We are hugely grateful to Beerex for choosing us as their charity of choice. By having a presence at the festival, we will be able to build our profile and raise awareness with a new audience, helping us to break down the stigma around mental health in Dorset.
“According to new figures from Public Health England, 8 in 10 (83%) people have experienced early signs of poor mental health including feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or trouble sleeping in the last 12 months. Meaning that attendees of Beerex are highly likely to either know someone who this relates to, or be affected themselves.
“With the support of Beerex, we will be able to continue to deliver our vital mental health services to meet the growing needs of Dorset.”
The festival will feature around 80 different real ales from all over the U.K with a variable selection of flavours and style, complemented by a large selection of cider and Perry.
Following on from last year’s record £17K profits all donated to good local cause’s organisers are hoping for a similar target this year, if not better.
Beerex chairman Les Fry said “Dorchester Beerex is a great way to help raise money for worthy cause’s and with the fantastic success of the 2019 festival for 2020 we are hoping to raise the roof and break through the £200K mark of money raised to date. This is all down to local support from barrel sponsoring companies, raffle donators and our loyal customers who have helped make the festival so popular over the years.”
The festival is split into lunchtime and evening sessions, entry is priced at £10 and customers receive a commemorative festival glass, colour programme with full beer listing notes and 2 half pints of beer. CAMRA members receive an extra two halves.
Tickets will be on sale December 1st from the following outlets.
• Dorchester, The Convivial Rabbit, The Bakers Arms and the Brace of Butchers, Poundbury.
• Weymouth, The Dog House micro pub (Great George St)
• On line via www.camrawdorset.org.uk which includes postal sales
Customers are advised to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment!
Cleeves Palmer of Palmers brewery (left) and 2020 Beerex Chairman Les Fry (right) with committee members