Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Hull & East Yorkshire Branch NEWS RELEASE

The 2006 Hull Real Ale & Cider Festival is Just Around the Corner

Issued 10th October 2006

The 2006 Hull Real Ale & Cider Festival starts in three weeks time and is expected to attract over 2000 visitors over the three days that it will be open.

The beer selection will provide something for everyone, male or female, and all ages with the following beer styles represented: Milds, Bitters, Best Bitters, Golden Ales, Strong Ales, Stouts, Porters, Real Lagers, Speciality Beers, Organic Beers and Foreign Bottled Beers.

The organisers had a difficult job in deciding the 70 real ales that are appearing. The backbone of the festival will again be some of the “Champion Beers of Britain” and a selection from our local micro-breweries: Garton (Garton on the Wolds), Old Mill (Snaith), Whalebone (Hull) and Wold Top (Wold Newton). Favourites and new beers from all over Britain will make up the balance.

The usual full-length ‘H-bar’ will have a record 37 handpumps (2 more than last year) and will dispense the equivalent of 41 firkins (2850 pints) of session strength beer (up to 4% ABV). The half-length ‘G-bar’, situated opposite the full-length bar, will have 33 firkins (2300 pints) of beers of a stronger strength (up to 8% ABV), served by gravity direct from the cask.

A new Cider and Bottled Beer Bar will be introduced in the central domed area. A small selection of foreign bottled beers will appear at the festival for the first time. Twenty ciders will be available with the vast majority of them not available anywhere in the Hull and East Yorkshire area.

Acoustic entertainment will be provided by popular duo ‘Milestone’ on the Thursday evening and on the Saturday afternoon between 1 and 4 o'clock there will be a folk music session.

The popular Pub & Brewery Tombola will again be a feature with a total of 1000 prizes including pub meals, brewery tours, polo shirts, T-shirts, beer glasses, bottled beers, key rings and pens.

CAMRA products will be on sale, including new branch polo shirts and the 2007 Good Beer Guide.

The three day festival, organised by CAMRA (Campaign for real Ale) is on from Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th November 2006 in the Mortimer Suite of the Hull City Hall. The opening hours will be 12.00 noon - 11.00 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday, and 12.00 noon – 8.00 p.m. on the Saturday. There will be an admission charge of £2 after 6.00 p.m. on the Thursday and Friday. However, admission will be free during the day and at all times to card carrying CAMRA members.