GOOD FOOD GUY

GET YOUR FESTIVAL BEER

 Taken from this month’s Cotswold Life magazine

 
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The local beer festivals that have become hot tickets in their own right

We’re well and truly into festival season now. But, have you noticed that as much as a festival is all about the music, it’s also increasingly becoming about the food and drink? Not that I’m a regular, but at one time, the only thing you could get to keep you going at a festival was a greasy burger and fries – forget any dietary requests – and beer that was served warm and flat in flimsy plastic cups.

But then we woke up and smelled the (locally roasted, single origin) coffee. Alex James’ Feastival led the way when he (and then partner Jamie Oliver) blended music and menus on Alex’s Cotswold farm back in 2011. It caused quite the stir when headline acts included a string of Michelin stars as well as rock stars, but it didn’t take long for other big Cotswold-based festivals, such as Wilderness, to follow suit. At this four-day Oxfordshire-based party, revellers are invited to banquet-style drinking and dining events hosted by celebrity chefs in between dancing to celebrity DJs. (Incidentally, the dining experiences are the first things to sell out.)

Today, you can go to any major festival, and gluten free street food stalls sit happily next to dairy-free pizza vans, vegan burgers are served up next to spit roasts and artisan local brews jostle for attention alongside bigger international brands. This only highlights the impact that good food and drink has on an event, whether that’s entertaining for a small party at home or, indeed, on a much, much bigger scale.

But you don’t have to go to the big ticket festivals to get a piece of the action. Beer has forever been synonymous with festivals, so if you’re looking to fill your summer days with a party that’s closer to home and that celebrates our local beer alongside good music, there’s plenty of choice. Here are the hot tickets for this summer:

Cotswold Beer Festivals

  • Stroud Beer Festival 2-4 August

    This free event is all about ‘sharing some beers with your mates whilst soaking up great tunes’, all in the spirit of charitable fund-raising for the Sub Rooms, one of Stroud’s most iconic music and food venues. Street Food, live music and DJs all compete for your attention alongside local beers from the area.

  • Frocester Festival 24th August

    Known as Frocester Beer Festival for 40 years, this village party punches way above its weight in terms of action. With over 30 local beers (including some of our Warner’s suppliers - Prescot Ales, Stroud Brewery, and North Cotswold Brewery), there’s a cider tent, gin, wine, Pimm’s and bubbles bar, plus live music and food stalls.

  • Big Feastival 24-25 August

    The original food and music festival goes from strength to strength with top chefs such as Raymond Blanc and Andi Oliver sharing the stage with headline acts such as Becky Hill and Snow Patrol. There’s a range of beer and cider as well as local tipples, courtesy of Cotswold Distillery. It’s like Glastonbury but for food!

  • Moreton-in-Marsh Beer Festival 13-14 September

    The festival is now in its 17th year, with last-year seeing a record-breaking 1600 visitors in attendance. Taking place at Moreton-in-Marsh cricket club, this two-day event plays host to a selection of over 50 beers, sourced from the three counties, with live music and food provided by local producers.

  • Gloucester Beer, Cider & Gin Festival 20-21 September

    Hosted by the Gloucester Quays Rotary Club, this two-day event celebrates local drinks while raising money for good causes. There are over 50 beers and ciders to choose from as well as artisan gins, and with live music and all-day food, it’s a fitting end to the summer festival season.