Last orders after 19 years (From Northwich Guardian)

Last orders after 19 years

10:10am Thursday 27th September 2012 in News By Gina Bebbington

HUNDREDS of revellers sampled ales from around the world as Northwich Beer Festival bid a fond farewell to its venue of 19 years.

A total of 1,310 people visited the annual event during its three sessions at Northwich Memorial Hall at the weekend.

This included 537 on Friday evening, 251 on Saturday lunch and 522 on Saturday night.

Organisers are determined that the closure of the hall early next year, to make way for a new leisure and cultural centre, will not spell the end of plans for their 20th festival John Walton, chairman of the beer festival committee, said: “I would like to thank everyone who helped to make the festival such a success, especially the people of Northwich who came along in force to enjoy the final beer festival to be held at the memorial hall.

“Rest assured that our two Rotary clubs and the local branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) will be holding a beer festival in Northwich next year – the hunt for premises is on.”

Drinkers enjoyed 54 different real ales, 13 ciders and perries and eight foreign beers at the world beer bar, new for this year.

Joe Wright, from CAMRA, said: “The fastest selling beer was the appropriately named Nice Weather 4 Ducks from the Dancing Duck brewery in Derby which sold out by 10.30pm on Friday.

“The fastest selling cider was Janet's Jungle Juice from Westcroft.

“Beer of the Festival voted for by the public was Merlin's MemoriAle.

“More than 490 gallons of real ale were enjoyed over the weekend.”

The festival also attracted visitors from afar, including Spain, Thailand and south Devon, where a glass from the festival will have pride of place behind the bar of the Queens Arms, in Brixham.