Fourth Annual Cheltenham Beer Festival

The Fourth Cheltenham Beer Festival was held on 11 July 2009 at the Old Patesians Club in Everest Road, Cheltenham.

Ready to open!

This popular, annual event, organised by the Friends of Cheltenham Samaritans, attracted around 1,000 people including the Mayor of Cheltenham, Lloyd Surgenor.

Organiser, Nick Lawrence with Lloyd & Anne Surgenor

The festival was a huge success and provided great entertainment for whole families as well as those who came to sample the real ale.

Families enjoying the atmosphere

When the festival opened at midday there were 46 different beers, 6 ciders and 4 perrys, from breweries across England and Wales. These included previous prize winning ales; Uley - Old Spot, Goffs - White Knight, Stonehenge - Eyeopener together with the much appreciated Stroud - Budding and Battledown's Natural Selection. The latter beer was brewed for this year's Cheltenham Science Festival and its name was provided by Leigh Norwood, a longstanding member of the Friends of Cheltenham Samaritans.

To accompany the fine beers there was a BBQ and a pig roast to satisfy even the biggest appetites.

Friends tending the BBQ

The beer drinkers were able to bring along their families for a great afternoon and/or evening's entertainment. There was live music throughout the event; provided by artists including Steve Kent, Adam & Band and High Jingo among others. There were many activities that kept the children happy, including the very popular bouncy castle.

It was only a shame that the rain began to fall during the evening after a warm and sunny afternoon. However festival visitors enjoyed themselves until the close at 11pm by which time more than 3,000 pints of beer had been consumed!

Ral ale lovers raise a glass to Samaritans!

Friends of Cheltenham Samaritans would like to to thank the Charles Irving Trust for their sponsorship as well as all those extremely kind individuals and companies who sponsored a barrel of beer helping us to ensure that we made as much profit as possible. Nick Lawrence said "We hope to see everyone at the Fifth Cheltenham Beer Festival which will be held on 10th July 2010."