We’ale beer Back! Knutsford Beer festival success.
45 county beers, gallons of delicious local ciders, hundreds of volunteer hours and 900 eager festival gooers made the first Knutsford Beer Festival a resounding success.
Full House on the opening night session
The local beer festival idea was seeded many years ago at Knutsford Sports Club by local alesman Neil Brannen.
First to the bar! Carolyn and Paul Brannen
Now some six years on, It has taken a focused and highly motivated local team with a huge range of professional skills to bring about it’s success.
Local ladies enjoying a glass or two!
Every committee member dedicated their own time over many months to create a event that will now become a regular annual feature in Knutsford’s event calendar.
Matt ( Legh Arms ) see here checking the beer ahead of the first session
Festival chairman, councillor Andrew Malloy, said “The festival was a fantastic success and we have proved the concept for the event. Massive thanks to the people of Knutsford for supporting the festival and I’m over the moon with how it all went”
Entertainment coordinator Paul Langley enjoying a much needed beer.
Tatton Estates Management who donated the building usage to Knutsford Beer Festival, were instrumental in securing a superb kickstart venue location. Many local ticket holders, were thrilled to see the building come alive and hoped for more exciting events at the old town hall.
Works reunion held at the Beer Festival Final Session.
“Following the success of the Knutsfordian Exhibition, Monckton Properties Ltd (part of the Tatton Estate) were delighted to be able to lend the Town Hall for the inaugural Knutsford Beer Festival. “The Estate are hugely supportive of any initiative that brings more footfall into the town centre and brings the community together. Knutsford is a special place and we are delighted to have been part of the team to help make this fantastic event happen” Tatton Estates Management
John Selby, Steve Nanda and Alec Guthrie showing some fantastic local support
The cask sponsorship received from local business was a hugely supportive influence and the festival team values their commitment highly. Weightman’s the main sponsor, allowed the festival team to get up and running quickly to really build a solid platform.
Simon Crump on bass at the final session with the Three Wise Men
Bar sponsor Robinson’s brewery, donated a two casks, Trooper and Hoptimal Prime, both were sellouts. John Robinson delivered the beer to the town hall beer personally. Robinson’s Brewery also supplied the festival with cellar support to get the first batch of beers onto the pumps.
Pictures of Trooper, the official beer for the British heavy metal rock band Iron Maiden, attracted global attention and festival re-tweets from as far away as Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela!
Cordelia & John Robinson passionately promoting the family business & Brewery Visitors Centre
“It was great to be involved with the Knutsford Beer festival, it was a fantastic occasion in a great location, hopefully the first of many. Knutsford is synonymous with great food and drink and now it has a fantastic Beer festival to add to its portfolio of amazing events!” John Robinson, brand manager at Robinson’s Brewery
Tatton Brewery’s rich and dark “Obscure” was a total sellout. One of the four donated Crowning Glory casks was amongst the first beers to run out part way through the Saturday afternoon!
Committed Committee: Linda Plant and Lisa benskin
Master brewer Greg Sawyer commented “Great to see local beer aficionados enjoying local beer. Knutsford’s inaugural beer festival was a major achievement, and a credit to the enthusiasm and commitment of the organising committee – and we brewers had fun too. I appreciate the generosity of the beer festival committee in helping us donate to the Royal May Day parade.”
Team Tatton Brewery
Local bands, 6864, Blues Side Out and Three Wise Men, provided the final session with a unique Knutsford musical flavour. Thanks to stage and entertainment sponsors OHM and opening night entertainment sponsor The Knutsford Wine Bar, festival gooers danced on right into the night to the cool sounds of Chief Brody.
Zoe and Matt from the soon to re-launch Legh Arms supporting the festival bar
The committee will meet up in a few weeks to sketch out ideas for the 2015 Knutsford Beer festival but for now, they are taking a well earned rest. Pub anyone?
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