Colchester Real Ale

And Cider Festival

Contact: www.colchestercamra.org. uk May/Jun: 28-1 (Tue-Sat) Colchester Arts Centre, Church St, CO1 1NF (5min walk from town centre). 120+ Real Ales, 20+Cider/Perry + Belgian Beer Bar. Food available all sessions. Including curry and hog roast (hog roast from 6pm each day). Live music Tuesday and Saturday evening. Festival glass £3.00 (refundable) Open Tues to Sat 12noon - 11pm. Entry free to card carrying CAMRA members. Others Free 12noon - 3pm, £3.00 thereafter Accompanied children welcome until 6:30pm. Full wheelchair access. More details: www.colchestercamra.org. uk (for beer list any updates)

29th Braintree Real

Ale Fetstival

Contact: www.braintreebeerfestival. co.uk June 13th-14th (Thu-Fri) 9th Braintree Real Ale Festival, Bocking Arts Theatre (previously the Institute), Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9AA. NW Essex CAMRA with Braintree Lions, proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support + other local charities. Easy access by train/bus; With town centre parking. Details:Thu 4.30-11pm; Fri 12-11pm; Sat 11am-10pm. Free admission Fri before 4pm. 60 beers plus ciders + perry. Hot food all sessions. Outdoor drinking area available. Souvenir glasses to hire or purchase. Entrance fee £2.00 free to card carrying CAMRA + Lions members all sessions. More info + staffing enquiries please contact Ralph Nicks 07850 365741 or visit.

Thurrock Beer

Festival

Jun: 4-8 (Tue-Sat) Thurrock Beer Festival, Thurrock Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays, Essex RM16 2JU (Nearest stn, Grays, C2C line - London Fenchurch St, 1.9m from fest; Nearest bus stop 'The Oak' Socketts Heath, Buses 73, 73A, 83, 100, 200,373, 374 visit Traveline or ring 0871 200 2233 for timetables/details). 120+ different beers, 20+ different ciders + perries plus selection of English country wines + mead. Open: Tue-Fri noon-3pm then 6pm-11pm; Sat noon- 11pm. Admission: Tue-Fri lunch Free; Tue- Wed evening £1; Thu evening £2; Fri evening £4; Sat £2; Free all times to card carrying CAMRA members. Entertainment: Tue/Wed evening quiet nights (no live music); Thu evening - Larry and the Steamers (60's revival); Fri evening - Tritt (Covers); Sat lunch - Rumford Morris Men; Grays Town Band (Brass band); Riff Raff (Folk); Indigo (Covers); Sat evening - Any Colour You Like (Pink Floyd tribute). Children not allowed in main hall any time (only allowed in garden or foyer up to 6pm if accompanied). Souvenir glass available plus CAMRA membship + products stand. Hot/cold food avail all sessions. Outdoor drinking area avail. Latest info visit branch website: For all enquiries call festival hotline: 07946 040223.

Adavance notice: 20th-21st July - Real

Ale Weekend

Epping Ongar Railway’s first real ale weekend will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July. The festival bar will be serving up around 15 cask ales from East London and West Essex as well as selected local ciders. Regular connecting bus services from Epping Underground station to North Weald will operate throughout the day and evening to allow easy journeys to and from the London area. Alan Perryman, the festival organiser said: “With regular connecting bus services from Epping Underground station to North Weald operating throughout the day makes this event truly accessible to anyone in and around the London area. Regular train services will operate into the evening so that drinkers can enjoy the gentle ride through the Essex countryside with a pint in hand. This is probably the closest beer festival on rails to London!” The bar will be open on from 11am on Saturday until late and from 12pm Sunday closing soon after the last heritage train has departed (unless the beer runs out first!) A discount on EOR travel tickets will be available for CAMRA members.