Hastings Drinks Beer Festival dry for the first time ever!
8,500 attend the event, over 30K raised for local charities.
Post event press release by Tim Pilbeam
The 2009 Hasting Beer and Music Festival proved to be a huge success with the people of the town with over 8,500 people attending. Chairman Steve Millea “ I am overwhelmed by the support as we planned the event for 7,000 people but 8,500 is unbelievable. Considering the event nearly folded last year, it shows that the current format is a real winner. More importantly, we are hoping to raise in excess of £30,000 for local charities which makes it all worthwhile. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out throughout the event as well as the Police, Council, Hastings Ambulance, East Sussex Fire and Rescue, St John’s Ambulance and all the other Multi agencies who, without their support, the event would not be able to run”.
Perhaps the hot weather had an effect on the attendance this year but it definitely caused the organisers a major headache as the real ale ran out at 9.30 during the Saturday evening session. Tony Lee the master Brewer said “ We are genuinely sorry for the real ale running out half way through the Saturday evening, but it has to be ordered on Monday & delivered on the Tuesday morning, thus allowing time for it to settle, so we are committed to this order some 4 days before the event opens. We even purchased transits loads of extra beer on Saturday morning after a busy Friday evening session, but that lasted only 20 minutes. We increased the amount of real ale on last years order but obviously that was not enough as we did not estimate an extra 1500 people attending. Having said that do you know 11,000 pints of real ale, 10,000 pints of Lager and 4,750 pints of Cider were consumed over the 2 nights!!!! The 120 volunteer bar staff worked their socks off and were absolutely exhausted, I sincerely thank them all for helping out. Next year we will review our ordering and promise that we will have more real ale in stock than ever before.
On both nights, top quality music was provided with friends of Blair including Midge Ure and Steve Fursk opening the event and Not Guilty, Pugwash, Joes Blue Band and Slam finishing on Saturday evening.
The quality of the food was highly praised by many. The flavours of India from Hastings, Fresh fish from Tush Hamilton, Pig roast from Benenden and high quality beef burgers with chips were very popular with all businesses reporting bumper sales throughout the event.
The event attracted a very diverse audience who are there for a good time, the atmos phere within the huge marquee, whilst busy at times, was very relaxed.
I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves and if you have some comments, please go to our website www.hbmf.co.uk and tell us what you think. Once we have calculated the profit, Hastings and Battle Round Tables will be looking for worthy local causes to donate to so please email us and we will pass this onto the respective Round Table, you can also write to us at the following address: Senlac Round Tables Charity Trust, 20 Eversley Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 1HE”
“Hastings Town” August 2009
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