CAMRA invites festival lovers to enjoy ales-of-every-season at Norwich’s final Great British Beer Festival Winter from 19 February 2019. Not to be confused with a festival for winter beers alone, this has beers of every style and shade, served in cask, KeyKeg and bottle – from dark to ruby brown and golden ales, plus world beers and real ciders.
Single Day Entry – On The Door
- CAMRA Members – free entry to all sessions
- Wednesday £3 single public session entry
- Thursday-Saturday £4 single public session entry
Single Day Entry – Advanced
Entry to any single public session of the festival, includes £7 worth of beer tokens and your Festival Glass:
- Wednesday £14
- Thursday-Saturday £15
Trade tickets are free for members of the trade and available in advance.
2019 will be the last chance to catch the festival in Norwich. After, the national event moves to a different CAMRA location as the festival moves location every three years. The festival runs from 19 – 23 February 2019 at St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ stunning medieval friary halls, opening with a preview evening for CAMRA members only.
Martin Ward, organiser, commented “2019 is the final chance to catch the February festival in the historic City of Norwich.’
Local pubs will also be getting involved in The Fringe which runs for the whole of February, with organised crawls and treasure trails, special events, competitions, featured brewers, all in the heart of Norwich. Visit winter.gbbf.org.uk.
Jenny Bach, Publicity Officer added, ‘The February Fringe invites visitors to also enjoy the many characteristic real ale pubs, all in easy walking.’
The event has been likened to CAMRA’s national summer festival in London Olympia as ‘like it, but cosier!’. There is also hot food and snacks served all day and live music most evenings. As always at the event, the Champion Winter Beer of Britain competition will be judged. Local and national brewers will compete in each category and the winners and overall winner will be announced at the opening evening. Competition ales, including winners, can be sampled by visitors in Blackfriars Hall.
Breweries from across East Anglia will be taking centre stage at the Great British Beer Festival Winter. The local breweries will offer a range of their finest beers to festival attendees. Breweries include:
Norfolk Brewhouse and H Banham Ltd – The Norfolk Brewhouse and H Banham, grain merchants and custodians of Maris Otter barley, will jointly run the Maris Otter Bar, giving visitors the chance to learn more about what makes Norfolk malt, its growers, maltsters and brewers so very special.
Lacons Brewery – a multi award-winning brewery based in Great Yarmouth that can trace its history back to 1760. Their flagship beer ‘Encore’ has been awarded many accolades, including category winner in the World Beer Awards 2018. Their ‘Patriot’ was awarded Bronze in the Golden Ale Category of Norfolk & Norwich CAMRA 2017 and their Audit Ale has won Gold in the World Beer Awards 2017. Affinity scooped Gold in the 2017 CAMRA Golden Ale Category, whilst Legacy attained Gold in 2017 Golden Beer Masters.
The chosen Charity is the Benjamin Foundation and visitors are invited to donate cash and unspent tokens using the glasses stand box and collection pots.
Entrance is cash-only on the door, is free to CAMRA members and is open from midday all day Wednesday to Saturday. Pre-event ticket packages, including beer tokens and souvenir glasses, can be secured. For ticket packages or more information on the Festival and February Fringe visit winter.gbbfw.org.