Feature
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Digital Diversion
Maidenhead Beer Festival Goes Online in Lockdown
ormally, the spring issue of CAMRAngle would advertise the biggest event in the Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead CAMRA branch’s calendar- ‘The Maidenhead Beer and Cider Festival.’ Usually taking place in late July, the three-day event is a local highlight of the year, showcasing over 100 beers and 50 ciders. Traditionally opened with a ‘festival proclamation’ from Chris Brown, the Royal Borough Town Crier, the festival is a celebration of good beer, amalgamated with quality food vendors, live music from local artists and a family friendly atmosphere. 2020 was due to celebrate the 8th rendition of this festival at the new venue of Maidenhead Rugby club, but like most events in 2020, this was inevitably cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. As 2021 started with a lockdown, the chances of organising and hosting a beer festival in the summer seemed slim. Only recently has the announcement been made that the earliest pubs can open without any form of restriction is 21st June - a date which could potentially be moved back if Covid cases deem it so.
“Our branch thought it was important to organise a virtual festival in an attempt to spread the word of real ale, raising funds for CAMRA and our chosen charity, Foodshare” Allan Willoughby Instead of risking a second consecutive cancellation, SWM CAMRA Vice Chair and Festival Organiser Allan Willoughby, suggested the beer festival become an online experience. “A
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CAMRAngle Winter 2020
Poster by Matt Rogers
lot of work goes into organising and running a beer festival, starting several months in advance and when it arrives the results can be very rewarding. The unpredictable British weather can be a challenge but it is all part of the fun! Our branch thought it was important to organise a virtual festival in an attempt to spread the word of real ale, raising funds for CAMRA and our chosen charity, Foodshare,” explains Allan. “With the pubs being closed for a number of months and the gradual re-opening planned from April to June, the timing of a
March online event looked logical, especially as we have teamed up with the branch’s first micro-pub,’ A Hoppy Place’ in Windsor.” The award winning ‘A Hoppy Place’ has become renowned for quality beer and staging entertaining online beer tasting events throughout lockdown. “We switched quite quickly to hosting online events because pub evenings, beer festivals and being with people is really what being in the beer industry is all about for us,” affirms Dave Hayward- co-owner of ‘A Hoppy www.swm.camra.org.uk
