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Don’t miss London Drinker 2007
by Mike Rose,
Festival Organiser
Yes, we are a few days later this year – the festival opens at midday on
Wednesday 28 March and closes at 10.30pm on Friday 30 March. We haven’t changed
the venue, though – we shall welcome you at the Camden Centre in Bidborough
Street, WC1 (opposite St Pancras Station) for the 23rd episode of the
longest-running London festival on a single site.
Yes, we shall have about fifty different British real ales in the main hall,
from all over the country, from old favourites to the latest micro-brewery
offerings. You will find plenty of new beers to try. And there will be a wide
range of farmhouse ciders and perries to whet your thirst. Don’t forget to play
tombola and 'Shut the Box', or to get you CAMRA products, including the festival
tee shirts and the new NW1 & NW5 Beer Guide. If you’re not already a CAMRA
member, look out for the special offers for joining. In the side hall, there
will be our famous festival food: meat and vegetarian main courses, O'Hanlon's
sausages, baps and snacks. The side hall bar will have a big range of foreign
beers, with German on gravity dispense. Details will be in the programme, and
you can keep abreast of developments on our web site
www.camranorthlondon.org.uk.
Yes, you would like to help with the festival. You can spread the word to
your friends – bring them and show what real ale and cider is all about. If you
are a CAMRA member, and would like to volunteer to work, please contact Ian
McLaren on ian.mclaren@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 020 8376 3266.
So, why do we have a festival? We don’t just give up our time so we can have
a drink. We aim to showcase the best in beer and cider. We especially welcome
landlords and bar staff to attend, to find out what they could offer us the other
fifty one weeks of the year. There are a wide range of styles to choose from –
how many local pubs regularly feature mild ales, stouts, fruit beers, or classic
bottles from Belgium, Holland or Germany? Perhaps a few more could be tempted to
offer real draught cider or perry? Once you have tasted what’s good, you can pass
on your recommendations.
Why else do we have a festival? Because you all love it so much. Evenings get
crowded, and sometimes we can’t avoid a queue – you arrive faster than we can
serve you. We do our best to make room – the balconies will be open for seating
in the evening, so that you can look down on the main bar. Seating in the side
hall will be kept for diners.
If you want more chance to circulate, or sit in the hall and chat, why not
come at lunchtime? So come to the London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2007,
and support your local the rest of the year.
Mike Rose
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 39.
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