Derby Beer Festival Returns to Museum of Making After Four-Year Hiatus

A beer festival is making its return to Derby after a four-year absence. The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra)’s Derby branch had been unable to organize its customary festival since February 2020, primarily due to Covid lockdowns and a scarcity of affordable venues. However, the group has now announced that the renamed Derby Heritage Beer Festival will be hosted at the city’s Museum of Making later this month. The event is set to feature more than 180 real ales, ciders, and perries, in addition to food and live music. Management at the Museum of Making has provided the ground-floor area for the festival from 13-17 November without imposing a hiring fee, opting instead for a profit-sharing arrangement. Heather Knibbs, the publicity officer for Derby Camra, commented on the financial strategy, stating: “For the festival to be truly sustainable we need to keep our costs down but still have a realistic hope of profit.” She also highlighted a unique aspect of the venue, adding: “I don’t think there’s another beer festival in the country that can boast that they have a seven-tonne jet engine suspended from the ceiling.” This year’s festival also marks the 50th anniversary of Camra’s Derby branch. Ms Knibbs remarked, “We often call ourselves the real ale capital of Britain.” She further explained the region’s strong brewing heritage: “We’re so long established, we have many breweries that are still going strong – Torrside, Thornbridge, Shiny Brewery.” Knibbs emphasized the significance of the event, noting: “We have pubs closing down every month across the country, so to have a festival like this that celebrates brewing is important.” Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.