Record turn-out for beer festival (From Redhill And Reigate Life)

Record turn-out for beer festival

3:31pm Monday 9th November 2009

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Organisers are celebrating a record turn-out at this year's Redhill Beer Festival.

For the East and Mid Surrey branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said more than 1,000 people flocked to the fifth festival at Merstham Village Hall.

The three-day event had to close two-and-a-half hours early on the final day when the beer ran out.

But not before the crowds voted Redhill Festival Ale, brewed by the Pilgrim Brewery in Reigate, the Beer of the Festival.

Kit Packham, festival publicity officer and CAMRA member, said: “The turn-out has been going up every year since we started – apart from one year when it went down a little – but then it picked up again.

“This is the first time it's gone into four figures for the three days.”

Admissions were up about 10% year-on-year and there were queues on the first two evenings when the hall reached its agreed fire limit.

The stewards operated a “one-out, one-in” system until the rush died down.

Mr Packham said some people had suggested it was time the festival found larger premises, although others urged them to keep the event small.

Festival-goers drank more than 4,500 pints between them.

The event took the theme of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Surrey Wildlife Trust, and for the first time offered visitors hot food.

The organising committee will meet soon to make the initial decisions for next year's event.

Anyone wishing to get involved should call festival organiser Clive Jennings on 01737 778711, staffing officer Sally Gingell on 01306 889466, or attend a meeting at The Garland pub in Redhill on Thursday, November 19, at 8pm.

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