Real Ale availability at the festival

jonorangesky wrote:However, I recall at Fleadh events in London in the past, also run by Vince Power, the beer choice was canned Caffreys at an unprintable price (but don't expect much of your fiver left!) - and this from the "Workers Beer Cooperative" - with a name like that you might expect to get a good pint of draught beer.

I volunteer for the Workers Beer COMPANY (not Cooperative) and there were issues with the amount of real ale on site.
From what I understand, stock is ordered for both days and once that is on site, there is no extra order put in. I think they underestimated how much real ale would get drunk on the Saturday and so once it was all drunk, that was it, which was a shame. I know they've learnt their lesson regarding this.

Also, the WBC don't have a choice over which lager is stocked, this is up to the event organisers and their sponsors, sadly.
The fact people keep going on about Hop Farm as this non-branded festival is bizarre - Vince Power is the main who heads up Meanfiddler who are responsible for the Reading/Leeds festival and all the other major corporately branded festivals, its just branded as non-branded!

Good points well made, Sarah.

As I posted earlier, the bar worked well despite the weather encouraging the inappropriately dressed to use it as a refuge from the rain. The range of (real) beers was good also. Rebranding the Ramsgate Brewery's Gadds' No 7 Bitter as Festival Ale was inspired, so much so that it ran out before most people arrived! A lovely pint and just the right strength for all day drinking, given the chance!!!

Good to hear that the powers that be have taken on board the need to reconsider the size of the beer order for future events.