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London Drinker Festival, March 2006
by Mike Rose
What ever you do in March, make a point of coming to this year's London Drinker
Beer & Cider Festival. Held at the Camden Centre as usual, close to St Pancras
and King's Cross Stations, the Festival is the longest running London Festival in
one venue and still the only one in London that does its own food, priding itself
on good quality and good value.
There will be around 50 different real ales including many from small micro-breweries,
alongside beers from traditional regional breweries. Most of these micro-breweries
did not exist when the Festival was founded – this shows CAMRA's success in
encouraging new breweries. The Festival's imported beer bar will have the usual
Belgian, Dutch and German regulars, such as Geueze, Lambic, Witbier, honey, fruit,
spiced and smoked beers plus dark lagers and Bockbiers. Among my favourites are the
trappist beers from Belgium. We also offer a select range of cider and perry. If
you have never tried perry, this is an ideal opportunity to try this difficult
to find drink.
On Wednesday night there is the Breweriana Auction, starting around 7.30pm. This year
we have decided to keep the festival music free, so that you can talk to your friends
and enjoy the beer all evening. You will have the opportunity to try the tombola and
the 'Shut the Box'; the latter is a sailor's game of skill where players can win a
T-shirt. The balcony will be open in the evenings to provide extra seating for those
who just want to sit and chat. This year both the main halls will be non-smoking, so
a smoking area will be provided in the large foyer. As usual, the British ales will be
served in the main hall, with foreign beer and food in the side hall. Our food is cooked
on the premises and offers an excellent selection. Each day there are two speciality
dishes, one of which is vegetarian, alongside a number of items served every day such
as sausage and mash and the most filling cheese baps ever.
The 2006 Festival starts on Wednesday 22nd March from noon until Friday 24th March and
takes place at Camden Town Hall, Bidborough Street, WC1. Wheelchair users are particularly
welcome at lunchtimes where accessibility around the hall is easier.
See the website for further details including information on the beer range as it
becomes available -
www.camranorthlondon.org.uk
Mike Rose, Festival Organiser 2006
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 34.
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