Over 100 beers will feature at the Hook Norton Festival of Fine Ales

The event has raised over £379,500 for charity since it started in 1994

Over 2,500 people are set to head to Hook Norton tomorrow for the annual Festival of Fine Ales.

The event was started in 1994 by the Clarke family, who own the Hook Norton Brewery.   They wanted to arrange a fundraiser for research into blood cancer after they lost their teenage daughter Victoria to leukaemia.

The festival is organised by a number of volunteers and has grown from just 10 to 15 beers back in that first year, to over 100 today – all of which are donated free of charge.

Over the years more than £379,500 has been raised for charity by the festival.

As well as the beers the Hook Norton Brass Band will be playing and morris dancers also set to appear.  Into the evening local musician Pete Watkins oversees performances by a number of local bands.

Tristan Koch is one of the event’s organisers.   He said: “Every barrel of beer we serve has been given free of charge by numerous brewers as far afield as Scotland and Cornwall. We have volunteers travelling the country collecting them for the last couple of weeks.

“This year we’ve moved the beer festival marquees to a site behind the brewery that has one of the most beautiful views in the Cotswolds.   It looks back across what’s called Ale Wood Valley – appropriately – and in the other direction it looks back across the Victorian brewery.   The location is absolutely stunning.”

A full entry pack costs £15, which includes a festival glass, three half pint beer tickets and a beer list.   Entry only is also available for £7.50.

For those who want to make the most of the day camping is available in the field next to the site.

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Published: 14/07/2023 02:21pm by Banbury FM Newsteam

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