Witches and Wizards theme to Pendle Beer Festival

The organisers of this year’s festival have conjured up a Witches and Wizards theme so expect plenty of eerie ales and spooky ciders to be on offer.

This will, of course, mean a number of home brews from local brewery Moorhouse’s and Pendle Witches Brew will be available by the gallon. This will all be alongside other top national tipples such as Hobgoblin from Wychwood and Old Hooky from Hook Norton.

In fact, there will be more than 100 real ales and ciders to sample and CAMRA’s Beer Festival Organiser Martyn Pashley hopes the event will pull in the punters.

He said: “We try and provide quite a mixture of beers from across the country. We should have 10 local breweries at the festival including Moorhouse’s, Thwaites and Bowland, and generally there are two beers from each brewery. It’s not just beer though, we have a range of West Country ciders too.”

“We’re expecting about 2,500 people over the course of the three days. The Thursday is a chance for those who want to have a few beers and a chat, there’ a band on on the Friday and folk music on the Saturday.

“Moorhouses Brewery have undergone major investment in new equipment recently and we want to be seen to promote this. One of their better-known brews is Pendle Witches Brew which is where the idea for theme came from.”

There is also the opportunity to sponsor an ale or cider and raise money for Pendleside Hospice at the same time. Last year the festival raised £4,000 in sponsorship and in return for a donation you will receive free admission and a pint.

A record of more than 2,300 visitors came last year, and with the prospect of a local celebrity as one of the judges, why not visit yourself and help better that figure this time round.

The festival hours are from 5 p.m. till 11 p.m. on Thursday, February 3rd and 11-30 a.m. till 11 p.m. on Friday, February 4th and Saturday, February 5th.

Entry to the festival is £3 all day on the Thursday and Saturday and £3 before 6 p.m. and £5 afterwards on the Friday. Admission is free for CAMRA members but if you join CAMRA at the event and your entrance fee will be refunded.

dmission is FREE for CAMRA members. Join CAMRA at the event and your entrance fee will be refunded.