Beer flows at finest festival yet

Held at Hucknall Community Centre, on Ogle Street, the three-day festival was also the largest yet, boasting 42 beers and 24 brewers.

The beers were sampled by more than 500 visitors, including Hucknall councillor John Wilmott (Lab), lead member for culture, leisure and tourism at Ashfield District Council, who opened the event.

Coun Wilmott said: "This is a great event that gives the people of Hucknall the chance to sample some excellent beers from around the country.

"It also attracts visitors to the area and both real-ale enthusiasts and those who come for the atmosphere here always have a great time."

The wide choice of beers ranged from the brewery, Alcazaar, of the Fox And Crown, Old Basford, to some from as far afield as Norfolk, Lancashire, Somerset, and Essex.

Other local brewers included Mallard from Carlton and the Nottingham Brewery, Radford.

There were all types of flavours and strengths of beers on offer ranging from the excellent Charles Wells Banana Bread Beer to Nottingham Brewery's Extra Pale Ale and Arundel's Long Willy. Bottled beers, cider and fruit wines were also available.

The festival was again organised by Hucknall Community Association with support from the Nottingham, Mansfield and Ashfield branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The Saturday night session featured entertainment by a traditional five-piece jazz band.

And so successful was the festival that there was only just enough beer left to keep it going into its third day on Sunday.

Organiser John Wilkinson said Sunday visitors paid to get into the festival only to discover all the beer was free!

"Last year, we let everyone in on the last day free but they paid for their beer," said John.

"This year, however, we had an innovation and provided the last of the beer free. It certainly ensured we had used up the beer by the end of the day!"

John said he hoped to offer even more varieties of beer at next year's festival and was delighted that the event was now firmly established in the real-ale calendar.

He added: "It keeps getting bigger and better each year. An event like this really brings people into Hucknall.

"This is a great tribute to the people from Hucknall and further afield who came and the support of CAMRA has been marvellous once again."