The annual Hull Real Ale & Cider Festival will move to a new venue in 2008 – Hull College's Horncastle Building on George Street, Hull, HU1 3BS. For a Multimap map of the location please click here. It will also move from the end of the year to the beginning of the year – Thursday 27th, Friday 28th and Saturday 29th March.
For six years (2000-2006) the festival has been held in the Mortimer Suite of the Hull City Hall but unfortunately Hull City Council were not able to accommodate the festival in 2007 and could not make any firm promises for 2008. So, a new venue was sought and the management of Hull College reacted positively to a request to hire the Horncastle Building during the Easter break.
The beer selection will once again provide something for everyone, male or female, and all ages with the following beer styles represented: Milds, Bitters, Best Bitters, Strong Ales, Stouts, Porters, Real Lagers, Speciality Beers and Organic Beers.
The organisers will have the usual difficult job of deciding the 74 real ales that will appear at the festival. The backbone of the festival will be some of the "Champion Beers of Britain 2007" and a selection from the local breweries. Favourites and new beers will make up the balance.
34 handpumps will dispense session strength beers (up to 4.0%) and another 40 stronger strength beers will be served by gravity direct from the cask.
A separate Cider and Bottled Beer Bar will offer 25 real ciders and perries and 15 different German and Belgian bottled beers.
Lined glasses will ensure that customers will receive full measures.
There will be the usual Pub & Brewery tombola and the popular Pub Quiz. Live entertainment will be provided in the separate theatre on the Thursday and Friday evening.
The three-day festival is organised by the Hull & East Yorkshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The opening hours will be 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. Admission is £2 after 6.00 p.m. on the Thursday and after 6.00 p.m. on the Friday. Entry is free at all other times and to card carrying CAMRA members at all times.