We are really happy to be able to announce that after missing two years for Covid, we’ve had the go ahead to organise our 46th normally annual Steel City Beer & Cider Festival, which will take place from 19 to 22 October.
The venue is once again the wonderfully atmospheric Kelham Island Museum and as before we’ll have cask ale, proper cider, stalls and live music in the upper hall, street food traders in the Victorian Courtyard and a marquee containing even more real ale & cider along with traditional pub games.
There are some changes to the festival site as a result of the Millowners Arms now being a proper commercially run pub all year around rather than a museum exhibit (this bar will be open as normal but within the festival site providing some additional food and drink choices for festival visitors). Bradfield Brewery’s bar which was previously hosted in the Millowners will this year be in the Brearley Room whilst the keykeg bar is being moved to a new area – the Stone Garden which will feature a bar serving craft beer in keg, can and bottle along with seating. To reach the Stone Garden you use the doors by the marquee and walk through the rooms containing the River Don steam powered beam engine and the Hawley knife collection.
Some initiatives from the last festival that went down well are being retained including the self service glass rinse facilities and the pre-bookable private tutored tasting and talk events. This year the half pint glasses are being sponsored by Hendersons Relish and the pint glasses are being sponsored by Bradfield Brewery, we anticipate them being popular souvenirs!
Posters and flyers (sponsored by Arnold Laver) will soon be available to get out and promote the event with promotional beer mats coming in the summer. There are still many sponsorship opportunities available if you would like to promote your business and support the festival at the same time, we’ll be opening the volunteering form soon.
For the latest information on the festival please visit the website – sheffield.camra.org.uk/festival.
photographs: Dave Pickersgill.