Banbury Beer Festival 2008

Our 2008 Beer Festival proved so popular that it was drunk dry of beer, cider and perry by 8.30pm on the Saturday night!

Facts & Figures

• The festival was held at the TA Centre, Oxford Road, Banbury from 8th-10th May.
• Attendance was up by 35% this year on last, with 1628 thirsty visitors through the doors. Between them (and the staff!) nearly 5,400 pints of ale were consumed, along with 250 litres of ciders and perries. In addition, 10 new recruits to CAMRA joined at the festival.
• The festival was opened by James Clarke, MD of the Hook Norton Brewery, at 5pm on Thursday 8th May.
• The first beer to sell out this year was Hook Norton's 'Banbury 400', brewed to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the granting of the town's charter by King James I.
• The theme for the festival was the north-west of England. There were many fantastic, less well-known beers on offer from that part of the country.
• The beer of the festival was Brimstage's Trapper's Hat, a 3.8% golden and refreshing hoppy session beer.
• New events for the Saturday included morris dancing, the hugely popular pig-roast (thanks to Rick Wright of the Woolpack, Banbury for undertaking this mammoth task in such sweltering temperatures!) and the evening musical entertainment provided by the very talented Paul Canning. These all helped to provide a fitting end to a great 3-day beer festival.