Beer Festivals

Southern Hampshire CAMRA has been running the Southampton Beer Festival at Southampton Guildhall for the past 14 years.

This year we are adding to this by organising an Autumn Festival, in Woolston, appropriately called Woolston Beer Festival.

In addition we are hoping to hold a festival in Winchester during early 2011. Watch this space for details.

All the staff at our beer festivals are volunteers. Many members of Southern Hampshire CAMRA also volunteer their time to work at the Great British Beer Festival each year.

Some of our aims in running beer festivals are:

To serve customers quality cask conditioned real ale.
To promote real ale to the local community, therefore increasing its popularity.
To promote membership of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

CAMRA Beer Festivals

If you'd like us to email you and let you know when we're holding beer festivals then join our "beerfests" mailing list and keep you informed!

Weymouth Octoberfest 2010 – 1st & 2nd October 2010, Brewers Quay, Hope Square, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8TR.
Run by West Dorset CAMRA
Hampshire Octoberfest – 1st, 2nd & 3rd October 2010, Milestones Museum Festival Site, Leisure Park, Churchill Way West Basingstoke RG22 6PG. A family event where North Hampshire CAMRA do the beer and Milestones (Hampshire County Council) do the rest. Friday evening is branded 'Works Night Out' and is over 18's only.
Woolston Beer Festival – 8th & 9th October 2010, Pear Tree Church Hall, Southampton SO19 7GZ (5 min walk from Woolston Station). Run by our own branch.
Poole Beer Festival – 29th & 30th October 2010. St Aldhelms Centre, Poole Road, Branksome BH12 1AD. Run by East Dorset CAMRA.
17th Woking Beer Festival – 12th & 13th November 2010. Woking Leisure Centre, Woking Park, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 9BA. Run by the Surrey Branches of CAMRA and Woking Borough Council.
15th Southampton Beer Festival – 2nd, 3rd & 4th June 2011. Southampton Guildhall. Our own beer festival – we think it's the best on the South Coast. Dates tbc. For the results of 2010 festival see here.

Non-CAMRA Beer Festivals

Many beer festivals take place in our branch area, or nearby, that are not CAMRA beer festivals. Despite being unable to endorse these events, we believe that any beer festival that sells quality cask-conditioned real ales should be supported (see you there!). The information given here is purely for the benefit of readers, and is accurate to the best of our knowledge.

• Tues 24/08/2010 – Mon 30/08/2010	Barley Beer Festival 2010 The Barley Mow, 39 Castle Road, Southsea PO5 3DE The 1st Barley Mow Beer Festival. Over 20 ales to celebrate local and popular cask ales. Website.
• Fri 27/08/2010 – Sun 29/08/2010	Compass Inn Compass Inn, Winsor Road, Winsor, Southampton, Hampshire, SO40 2HE. Tel: 023 8081 2237. The pub's website is here, but it doesn't have any more details of their Beer Festival.
• Fri 27/08/2010 – Mon 30/08/2010	Flower Pots Inn Cheriton. SO24 0QQ. All the usual features are planned for this ever popular beer festival. Music Friday & Saturday evening, and possibly Saturday afternoon. Locally produced food including a curry tent, around 25 mostly local beers plus those from the bar. They have a website but they keep quiet about the festival as it is too popular.
• Fri 27/08/2010 – Mon 30/08/2010	Happy Cheese Ashurst. SO40 7AR. We are told there'll be a beer festival with music and a barbecue all day. Beers will probably include the full range of Marston's Ringwood beers and Fuller's Gales beers. They have a website but there's no mention of individual events, so contact 023 8029 3929.
• Fri 27/08/2010 – Mon 30/08/2010	The Musketeer 26 North Street, Pennington SO41 8FZ (Near Lymington) Phone 01590 676527. From 6pm on Friday. Over 25 real ales and traditional ciders, Hog Roast and BBQ. Music on Saturday afternoon from Andy Broad & Chris Shaw and no doubt entertainment at other sessions as well.
• Fri 27/08/2010 – Mon 30/08/2010	Kings Head, Hursley Main Road, Hursley SO21 2JW From 7pm on Friday. At least 15 real ales plus cider. It’s going to be a true celebration of Hampshire's finest, with a great selection of local beers and ciders as well as some from Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire. Food will include sauasges supplied by Uptons of Bassett. Sunday afternoon folk music/ceilidh and probably Morris Dancing. See website.
• Fri 27/08/2010 – Mon 30/08/2010	Wheatsheaf, Titchfield 1 East St., Titchfield, PO14 4AD Real Ale & Sausage Festival. That's all we know.
• Mon 30/08/2010	Wellington, 62 High Street, Old Portsmouth PO1 2LY Yew Tree, Odstock, Wiltshire SP5 4JE Winchester Gate, 113 Rampart Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 1JA Bear Inn, 12 West St., Wilton, Wiltshire SP2 0DF Ye Olde George Inn, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1DT No websites for any of these pubs, and no more information than they are having 'Bank Holiday' beer festivals. So, they may start a day or two earlier or may run out by Monday. According to Salisbury CAMRA these three run from Friday to Monday.
• Thurs 02/09/2010 – Sun 05/09/2010	Ale at Amberley Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, Amberley, Nr Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9LT This will be the Fifth "Ale at Amberley", and this year opens early. Entrance prices range from £3 to £9.30 (the higher price is when the museum is open and includes entry to that). There should be a range of 60 real ales and cider & perry too. The Saturday evening includes live music, and at other times there will be other entertainment and activities. For more details see the festival poster and for full details see the Ale at Amberley website.
• Fri 03/09/2010 – Sat 04/09/2010	Alton's Secret Beer Festival The Eight Bells, Church Street, Alton GU34 2DA 20 Real Ales, Normal opening times.
• Fri 03/09/2010 – Sat 04/09/2010	Artillery Arms, Southsea Hester Road, Milton, Southsea, PO4 8HB. No more details.
• Fri 03/09/2010 – Sun 05/09/2010	Lambs Green Inn, Corfe Mullen Lambs Green Lane, Corfe Mullen, Wimborne, BH21 3D 15 show-stopping cask ales of the highest quality and reputation all on in a marquee on the lovely lawned area. Friday evening & Sunday lunchtime music, Saturday afternoon Hog Roast, stalls & raffle. See website for full details.
• Fri 03/09/2010 – Sun 05/09/2010	Kings Arms, Stoborough, Wareham 3 Corfe Road, Stoborough, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5AB Annual Cider Festival with many traditional ciders and perrys for you to enjoy in the sun! A great weekend! See website for more details.
• Fri 10/09/2010 – Sat 11/09/2010	Blue Bell Beer Festival The Blue Bell, Batts Corner, Dockenfield, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4EX OS: SU821410 Friday 6pm to 11pm, Saturday 12.30pm to 11pm. Tickets £5 in advance or £6 on the door. (includes your own festival glass, live music and parking). See their website.
• Fri 10/09/2010 – Sun 12/09/2010	Cuckoo Inn, Hamptworth Hamptworth, Wiltshire SP5 2DU, OS: SU244197. Beer festival. Music Friday and Saturday evening and maybe a folk jam on Sunday afternoon. Forty plus beers over the weekend. The barmaid thinks they may be opening the festival on Thursday evening.
• Fri 10/09/2010 – Sun 12/09/2010	Royal Oak , Beaulieu Hilltop Avenue, Beaulieu SO42 7YR Organised by the Hythe & District Rotary Club not the pub, festival drinks are not usually allowed in the pub because of this. About twenty beers in the garden sponsored by local firms. Music on Friday and Saturday evening. See club website for more details.
• Fri 10/09/2010 – Sun 12/09/2010	White Hart, Tongham 76 The Street, Tongham, Surrey, GU10 1DH No more details though you can find the music line up on their website.
• Sat 11/09/2010	5th Wickham Charity Beer Festival Wickham Centre, Mill Lane, Wickham, PO17 5AL Around 30 real ales and 3 real ciders. Two sessions 11am – 4.30pm & 6 – 11pm (While closed between sessions food, toilets & seating will be available in another room in The Wickham Centre). Families welcome at the Afternoon Session (No Children in the Main hall or Bar area), Over 18's only at the Evening Session. Entrance £5.00 per Session or £6.00 on the door subject to availability. All Day Tickets £8.00. Includes glass & programme. Food throughout the day including an evening BBQ. Entertainment from Reavers Rant & The Pete Harris Blues Band in the evening. The charities that will benefit this time are Meon Valley Home Start, 1st Wickham Scouts, Wickham 1st Responders, The Wickham Community Association and Pancreatic Cancer UK. Full details on their website.
• Sat 11/09/2010	Newbury Real Ale Festival Northcroft Lane, Newbury, RG14 1RS Noon to 10pm, entrance £5 for over 18's. Over 150 Ales, Ciders & Perries. Multiple food options, including Hog Roast. Varied musical line-up. More details on their website.
• Sat 11/09/2010 – Sun 12/09/2010	The Cedars Binsted, Alton, Hampshire GU34 4PB 16 real ales, live jazz band on Sat evening along with hog roast & BBQ. The times are expected to be Friday 6–11, Saturday 12–11 and Sunday 12-6pm for the beer festival (although the pub will still be open as usual on the Sunday evening). The pub is registered with the Caravan club and therefore caravan and camping pitches are available. Website.
• Thu 16/09/2010 – Sat 18/09/2010	Great American Beer Festival 2010 Denver, Colorado, USA. You may well ask what we are doing advertising an American beer festival. The answer is that Mike, a nearby resident of Denver who was on holiday in England last year, volunteered to work at our Southampton Beer Festival 2009 and was much taken with our hospitality. In return, he's very kindly offering to host anyone who wishes to join him in Denver for the "Great American Beer Festival" on 16 –18 September 2010 (Tickets go on sale in June). Mike's full offering can be found on our forum: http://www.shantscamra.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=192 (You'll need to register and/or log in to view this but the registration process is easy and then you can participate in of all the forum which includes a beer festivals section).
• Fri 17/09/2010 – Sat 18/09/2010	Langford Beer Festival Langford Sports & Social Club, Steeple Langford Recreation Ground, Steeple Langford, Wiltshire, SP3 4ND Friday 7pm to 11 pm, Saturday 12noon to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm. Featuring 36 real ales from a wide variety of breweries, plus ciders and a wine bar. Tickets £5 to £9, depending on session & if bought in advance. See website for more details.
• Sat 18/09/2010 – Sun 19/09/2010	Colden Common Beer Festival Community Centre, St. Vigor Way, Colden Common, Hampshire SO50 7HH Saturday – 2pm to 11.30pm. Admission £8.00 including glass and & first ½ pint. £1 discount for CAMRA members. At least 20 real ales (including the new local brew "Cold n uncommon"!) & ciders from local brewers, limited edition festival glasses & a barbecue in the Garden. Sunday is a 'Family & Community Afternoon' 2pm to 5.30pm, but there will still be some beer. Entrance £3, or £1 if bringing glass from day before. This year's festival logo has a recycling theme. See the festival web page for more details.
• Sun 19/09/2010	Salisbury Food & Drink Festival 10am-5pm, Market Place. Salisbury & South Wiltshire CAMRA help run the Sunday Beer Tent. Website.
• Fri 24/09/2010 - Sat 25/09/2010	Waterloo Arms Beer Festival 101 Waterloo Road, Freemantle, Southampton, SO15 3BS TBC.
• Fri 24/09/2010 - Sat 25/09/2010	Park Inn Real Ale Festival 37 Carlisle Road, Shirley, SO16 4FN Over 14 real ales and ciders, with live music on the Friday night and a barbecue.
• Fri 01/10/2010 – Sat 02/10/2010	Selborne Zig Zag Festival Selborne Arms, High Street, Selborne GU34 3JR and in the nearby Village Hall This is the 6th festival and as usual it will feature a fantastic selection of local real ales and ciders, a range of fine wines (and fizz!), superb locally produced food and live music from local Hampshire bands. Advance tickets £10. The tickets include 4 drink tokens to get you started, a souvenir glass, festival guide and entry to all sessions and live music. On door prices will be higher. See their website for more details.
• Fri 01/10/2010 – Sat 02/10/2010	Ale-ing Fest Hayling Island Community Centre, Station Road, Hayling Island PO11 0HB Friday 6.30pm to 11 pm, Saturday 12noon to 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm. Tickets £5 to £9, depending on session & if bought in advance. Entertainment both evening sessions. See website for more details.
• Fri 08/10/2010 – Sat 09/10/2010	Cricketers Arms, Springbourne 41 Windham Road, Springbourne, Bournemouth. BH1 4RN Real ale and folk weekend, 10 beers, food and entertainment by various folk bands.
• Fri 08/10/2010 – Sat 09/10/2010	Wimborne Beer Festival Well they've got a website, but it doesn't yet tell you anything useful apart from it being run by Wimborne Round Table
• Fri 15/10/2010 – Sun 17/10/2010	Prince of Wales, Farnborough 184 Rectory Road, Farnborough GU14 8AL Annual Beer Festival. No more details than this, even on their website.
• Thurs 21/10/2010 – Sun 24/10/2010	Old Mills Beer Festival, Salisbury The Old Mill Hotel, Town Path, West Harnham. Salisbury, SP2 8EU Loads of guest beers! Hog roasts and barbecues. Across the water meadows from the town centre – quite close by footpath. More details on their website.
• Fri 22/10/2010 – Sat 23/10/2010	Queens Hotel, Gosport 143 Queens Road, PO12 1LG Dates & everything else TBC. Could be a week later 29th & 30th. About 20 beers.
• Fri 12/11/2010 – Sat 13/11/2010	The Goods Yard, Broadstone, Poole 14 Station Approach, Broadstone, Poole, Dorset, BH18 8AX Live music on both evenings, Black Sheep (the band) have confirmed the Saturday 13th. The free house pub aims to have 20 to 24 real ales and 6 ciders, with good food readily available for when people get hungry. They have a website but no beer fest details there yet.

If you know of any more non-CAMRA beer festivals in our branch area then please email the details to us.