The East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival kicks off at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds, for 32nd iteration
A popular annual beer festival has returned for its 32nd iteration.
The East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival kicked off at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, in Bury St Edmunds, at 6pm today – the fourth event to be held at the site.
The six-day festival will allow punters to sample 250 real ales and 60 ciders, with food stalls, a sound stage and a full entertainment programme also in place.
Opening the festival, Anita Rooney, cathedral curate, welcomed everyone to the festival.
She said: “It is my honour to also welcome you to this beautiful place for what will be the fourth beer festival at the cathedral.
“We are thrilled that CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) have agreed to be here for what promises to be the best beer festival yet, raising money for dozens of charities, not only providing a really wonderful atmosphere for you all to enjoy all kinds of real ales peris and cider, but a place to meet up with friends and family and to enjoy the entertainment and all that is good.”
The festival runs until Monday.
It has raised over £175,000 so far, with £15,000 donated last year alone.
Martin Bate, vice-chairman of West Suffolk CAMRA, said he was excited for the festival to get under way.
More than 6,300 people turned up to last year’s event, with the team hoping to welcome more than 6,500 visitors this year, he said.
“The weather has been good, we’ve had healthy ticket sales and I think we may have a good turn out,” Mr Bate said.
“Of course, it’s also important for people to have a good time – it’s not just about drinking beer. We’ve set out to make it more than a beer festival.
“Last year, we had a very good year, giving away £15,000 to charities, as well as a fair donation to the cathedral, but we’re hoping to do better than that this year and hopefully tip us over to £200,000 raised.”
The opening times of the festival are as follows:
- Wednesday, August 21: 4pm – 5.30pm (trade and members only) and 5.30pm – 11pm (festival open)
- Thursday, August 22: midday – 11pm
- Friday, August 23: midday – 11.30pm
- Saturday, August 24: 11:30am – 11pm
- Sunday, August 25: midday – 8pm
- Monday, August 26: midday – 6pm
