Visitors flock to city beer and cider festival

10:16am Saturday 5th July 2008

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THE biggest bar in Herefordshire opened its doors to the public yesterday (Friday) and expected to welcome more than 3,000 customers this weekend. And visitors to the Hereford Beer and Cider Festival at Hereford Rowing Club on the banks of the River Wye, had a staggering 111 different beers from which to choose.

But that is not all. In addition, visitors to the festival could also sample 53 ciders and perries, all produced from within Herefordshire.

"No other place in Europe could put on such a large display of ciders and perries, all produced from within the came county," festival organiser Mark Haslam said.

After the festival and a Herefordshire Pub Heritage exhibition was opened by the Mayor Hereford, Councillor Kevin Wargen, the event's top award, for the best beer, was awarded to Shropshire brewery, Stonehouse of Weston, for its Station bitter. The brewery, established in 2007, brews in old chicken sheds next to the former Cambrian Railway line.

After making the award, Mark Haslam said he expected some 3,000 visitors to the festival this weekend and they can sample 111 different beers from 80 different breweries from through much of the UK.

"We have 1,044 gallons of beer on tap," he said, "but visitors should not have to wait to sample. Our bar is 112ft long, easily the biggest in Herefordshire."

Herefordshire Beer and Cider Festival continues today and tomorrow (Sunday).