25th to 28th August 2004
STOP PRESS!
All beers and ciders ordered have arrived, there should be an excellent choice available for the opening at 6pm on Wednesday, and we have made provision for emergency deliveries if necessary to ensure we have plenty through till Saturday night.
Friends and customers of the Royal Fusilier, Aingers Green may wish to know that we will be making a presentation at the festival to Terry & Eileen Eames at 7pm on Thursday to celebrate their 50 years running the pub. Press should be there, but bring your own cameras as well.
The last train each day from Clacton to Colchester is at 10.25pm, which means leaving the beer festival just after 10pm, losing valuable drinking time. We have therefore arranged to run a minibus which leaves Clacton at 11.30 on Thursday and Saturday evenings, and around midnight on Friday, journey time around 35-40 minutes, dropping off in Colchester Town centre. We may also be able to drop off en-route, but only on the main road - sorry, no detours!
This will be FREE to anyone working at the festival, but festival-goers can also travel at a cost of only £4. Space is limited - to ensure your place, contact Dave Nunn on his mobile, 07985 662404, or ask him at the festival - first come first served.
Our next branch meeting will take place in The Plough, North Road, Clacton-on-Sea at 8.30 pm on Tuesday 14th September. We will be providing a free buffet to say thank you to everyone who worked at the Clacton festival, but all are welcome. In particular, we want to discuss the possibility of greater local involvement in the organisation and planning of next year's festival - the Tenth.
The 2004 Clacton Beer Festival
Welcome to the 9th Clacton Beer Festival page.....
Every year, the Clacton Festival continues to grow in numbers of beers, drinkers and popularity. We hope this year is no exception, and with your help and support, we know it won't.
Thanks this year go to Steve Munn of the Red Lion, Kirby-le-Soken, who has kindly agreed to sponsor the souvenir festival glasses.
We are always keen to see new faces, both in front of an behind the bars. If you would like to try your hand at pulling a pint or two, then there's a Staffing form down the page.
If not, then please pop along to the east coasts greatest beer festival....
Beers
This year we have over 40 real ales. Brewers from Cornwall to Inverness are represented, in addition to a good selection from local breweries. We have ciders from Essex and Kent, CAMRA's National 2004 Gold Champion Perry, and local wines from Mersea Island vineyards.
We are also offering Belgian and Czech bottle beers
| B & T | Shefford, Beds | Shefford Wheat Beer | 5.0 |
| Batemans | Wainfleet, Lincs | Summer Swallow | 3.9 |
| Blackawton | Saltash, Cornwall | Dragon Heart | 5.0 |
| Cairngorm | Aviemore, Inverness | Black Gold Stout | 4.4 |
| Cairngorm | Tradewinds | 4.5 | |
| Cotleigh | Wiveliscombe, Soms | Kookaburra | 4.4 |
| Crouch Vale | S Woodham Ferrers, Essex | Essex Blonde | 4.7 |
| Crouch Vale | Golden Duck | 3.8 | |
| Crouch Vale | Anchor Street Porter | 4.9 | |
| Dark Star | Haywards Heath, W Sussex | Over the Moon | 3.8 |
| Dark Star | Espresso Stout | 4.2 | |
| Harviestoun | Scotland | Old Engine Oil | 6.0 |
| Gales | Waterlooville, Hants | Festival Mild | 4.8 |
| Grand Union | Hayes, Middx | Gold | 4.2 |
| Grand Union | Kolsch | 4.8 | |
| Greene King | Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk | XX Mild | 3.0 |
| Hampshire | Romsey, Hants | Greece Lightning | 4.2 |
| Hook Norton | Hook Norton, Oxford | Olympic Ale | 4.0 |
| Humpty Dumpty | Reedham, Norfolk | Bruff's Bitter | 4.4 |
| Humpty Dumpty | Claud Hamilton | 4.1 | |
| Maldon Brewing Co | Maldon, Essex | Pucks Folly | 4.2 |
| Mauldons | Sudbury, Suffolk | Mole Trap | 3.8 |
| Mauldons | Ploughmans | 4.3 | |
| Mighty Oak | Maldon, Essex | Burntwood Bitter | 4.0 |
| Mighty Oak | Happy as a Sand Boy | 3.5 | |
| Mighty Oak | Maldon Gold | 3.8 | |
| Mighty Oak | Oscar Wilde Mild | 3.7 | |
| Nethergate | Clare, Suffolk | IPA | 3.5 |
| Nethergate | Sheeps Eye | 4.1 | |
| Oakham | Peterborough, Cambs | Redneck | 5.2 |
| Oakleaf | Gosport, Hants | I Can't Believe it's not Bitter | 4.9 |
| Oulton | Lowestoft, Suffolk | Sunrise | 4.0 |
| Pitfield | London N1 | Original Bitter | 3.7 |
| Rebellion | Marlow Bottom, Bucks | Blonde | 4.3 |
| Ridleys | Chelmsford, Essex | Old Bob | 5.1 |
| St George's | Worcester | Paragon Steam | 4.0 |
| St Peter's | South Elmham, Suffolk | Lemon & Ginger | 4.7 |
| Skinners | Truro, Cornwall | Betty Stogs Bitter | 4.0 |
| Triple FFF | Alton, Hants | Stairway to Heaven | 4.6 |
| Tring | Tring, Herts | Mother Haggys Finest | 3.7 |
| Westerham | Edenbridge, Kent | Black Eagle SPA | 3.8 |
| Westerham | British Bulldog | 4.3 | |
| Wissey Valley | Stoke Valley, Norfolk | Wild Widow Mild | 3.5 |
| Updated 18/8/2004 |
Cider & Perry
| Delvin End | Sible Hedingham, Essex | Cyclone (SV Cox, Dry) | 7.0 |
| Double Vision | Staplehurst, Kent | Medium Cider | 8.0 |
| Park Farms | Holland-on-Sea, Essex | Dry Blended Cider | 7.5 |
| Gwatkins | Abbey Dore, Herefordshire | Blakeney Red Medium Perry | tba |
Please also note that CAMRA supports anti drink-drive campaigns, so free soft drinks will be available at our festival, to all patrons who would like them.
Opening Times
Wednesday 25th August - 6pm to 11pm
Thursday 26th August - 11am to 11pm
Friday 27th August - 11am to 11pm
Saturday 28th August - 11am to 11pm
Finding Us
The beer festival is held at St James' Hall, Tower Road, Clacton. Simply follow the signs for The Westcliff Theatre, or click here for a map
Entry Fees
Entry costs into this years Beer Festival will be as follows :-
Wednesday - £1 (evening only)
Thursday/Friday - £1 before 6.30pm, £2 after 6.30pm
Saturday - £1 all day
FREE ADMISSION to card carrying CAMRA members at all sessions (and your entry fee refunded if you become a member at the festival)
Food
As in previous years, burgers and hot dogs will be available, with the proceeds going to the Essex Air Ambulance. .
Music
By popular demand, Thursday night sees the return of the The Onion Band with their unique semi-acoustic style of folk rock.
And on Friday evening, we will be entertained by the traditional folk music and Morris Dancing of Mandrake Madness.
Staffing/Volunteers
We are always keen to hear from branch members who would like to help out at this or any of the other festivals the C & NEE branch organise.
There are lots of jobs that need doing, from set up on the Tuesday, helping during the festival itself and then 'knock down' on the following Sunday.
Don't worry if you've never served beer before, it's very simple and there will be plenty of people to help you out. If you don't fancy working behind the bar then, what about helping out on the front door, or the merchandise stall?
Just a couple of hours of your spare time means that someone else gets a break and can enjoy a little of the festival as well.
If you would be willing to help out, please complete this Staffing Form and return it to Dave Nunn.