42nd Steel City Beer & Cider Festival 19th-22nd October 2016

Still early days, but here’s an update on the preparations. We now have an almost-full committee and have started planning meetings. If you want to help and simply haven’t got round to it, now’s the time. Just turn up at one of the meetings and we’ll find you a job! Dates are on the CAMRA website or in Beer Matters. NEWS There’s a couple of bits of good news already. Firstly, the Kelham Island Museum have offered us an extra room, which means we’ll be able to have more visitors and more beers for them to drink. Secondly, the Sheffield Childrens Hospital has been chosen as this year’s charity, and we’re sure all our visitors will be just as generous as previous year’s in supporting this great local institution. SaxBob has been his usual efficient self and already booked all the entertainment for the festival, almost seven month’s early! We’ll not spoil the excitement by announcing it just yet, but trust us, it’s a great line-up. VOLUNTEERS As always we’re looking for plenty of volunteers and you can contact us at any point to register your interest. Last years festival was staffed by 137 volunteers giving 2,882 hours of time, which averages at 21 hours per person.That might sound a lot, but as it seems more like fun than work the time just flies by. You’ll make a few new friends, get to drink some FREE beer (always good) but more importantly you’ll finish the festival with the satisfaction of being part of a successful team. And don’t forget the free festival t-shirt and glass! SPONSORSHIP For anyone considering sponsorship this year, we’ll have several options announced soon, but in the meantime here’s one to get you started. At this years Festival we are giving pubs/breweries/businesses/individuals the chance to be involved by sponsoring a cask of beer or a box of cider for £60. (£50 + vat) In return you will be acknowledged in the festival programme, on the festival website and have a cask/box end label with your name on it. If you are interested please contact steelcitysponsorship@sheffieldcamra.org.uk TOMBOLA We’re also on the lookout for more items for our popular Tombola. If any landlord, brewery or collector wishes to rid themselves of any brewery related items such as brewery/beer festival glasses, pump clips, bar towels, beermats, books about beer/breweries etc., they would find a good home on the tombola stand at the Festival either as prizes or as items for sale for the festival charity. If you can help please email andrewmorton77@outlook.com We’ll keep the updates coming throughout the summer, but feel free to contact us any time at festival@sheffieldcamra.org.uk if you want to get involved in any way. Paul Crofts