Bristol Beer Festival returns for the first time since the pandemic - how to get your tickets

The 23rd CAMRA Bristol Beer Festival has opened its doors, with 85 different beers and 30 ciders and perries on offer. It marks a welcome return for the event, which was cancelled for two years due to Covid.

The festival is taking place at City Hall, College Green, which was the event’s original home. In recent years, it was moved to Brunel’s Old Station at Temple Meads, but the venue has not reopened since the pandemic.

The festival will run until Sunday (November 20) and some sessions have already sold out although there are still tickets for tonight (Thursday), Saturday evening and the Sunday afternoon session.

The 85 real ales are from breweries all over the UK. Local Bristol breweries appearing include Arbor Ales, Fierce & Noble and Dawkins.

The beers cover a range of styles, from bitters and milds to porters and stouts. The strongest beer on offer is the Bristol-brewed Moor Old Freddy Walker at 7.3%.

Ciders and perries have been supplied by some of the biggest producers in the country, including Wilkins, Heck’s and Gwatkins.

Other ciders to look out for include Mr Whitehead’s Devil’s Device and Sanford Orchards The General, both at 8.4%.

Long-established Bristol business Clarks Pies is serving hot food at the festival throughout the weekend.

Bristol & District CAMRA Branch Chair Richard Brooks said: “Everyone is really excited to be holding a festival again after the tribulations of COVID-19.

“The festival always has a fun and friendly atmosphere and key to the success of the event is that it is organised and run by unpaid CAMRA volunteers who take part because they are beer and cider enthusiasts that want the event to be a great success for everyone that attends.”

Tickets for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday sessions cost £14 and tickets for the Sunday afternoon session cost £11.

All tickets include £5 worth of beer festival tokens, which customers will receive on entry enabling them to go straight to the bar.

Also included in the price are a festival programme and a commemorative half pint glass, marked for third and half-pint measures. Tickets can be booked here.