The Lt. Governor of the Isle of Man, Sir Richard Gosney is to officially open the 6th CAMRA Isle of Man Beer and Cider Festival on Thursday, 6th April. The festival is being staged, as last year, in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall from 6th to 8th of April. The logo for this year’s festival features an historic Douglas bay horse tram and Sir Richard will be conveyed from Derby Castle to the Villa Marina aboard the Okell’s double-decker tram for the opening ceremony.
This year’s festival will feature over 150 real ales, 40+ ciders, perries and fruit wines, so there will be something on offer to suit everyone’s taste. As well as a programme of music on Friday and Saturday evenings, food will be available throughout the festival and the Grand National will be screened on Saturday.
Tickets for the festival have been pegged at last year’s price of ?5 and are now on sale at the Villa-Gaiety box offices, Sea Terminal and on-line.
Request for volunteers
Due to the ongoing huge success of the CAMRA Isle of Man Beer and Cider Festival, the organisers of the event in 2017 are seeking new members to help with the festival. All CAMRA members working at the Festival are volunteers who give their time freely. As the event has grown, so more people are needed to maintain the high standards that have been set over the years. From the initial setting up on Monday, 3rd April to the taking down on Sunday, 9th April, the organisers would love to hear from people willing to lend a hand. Tasks vary from building the stillages, stacking the casks, installing the cooling system, dispensing the beers and ciders, front of house duties to the final dismantling and clearing of the Royal Hall. Help is needed for all sessions but volunteers are not expected to attend every session – only when they are available.
Ideally, volunteers should be CAMRA members. The cost of annual membership is a mere ?24 and benefits include ?20 Wetherspoon’s beer vouchers, a monthly newspaper, quarterly “Beer” magazine plus discounted entry to beer festivals around the British Isles.
Anyone wishing to join should e-mail Darren Shaw darrenjshaw@manx.net or Julie Jones joolieiom@gmail.com.
