A number of local CAMRA members who have strong connections to the 4th Widnes St Bedes Scout group drew my attention to their impending beer festival. I duly bought a ticket and visited the venue in the setting up period where there were skilled craftspeople at work labouring hard to ensure the evening was a success. The portents were good!

On a wet, cold winters evening in November after a long week at work I went along to the groups fourth annual beer festival. What an eye opener!!

I arrived very shortly after opening time and the venue was already pleasantly full. Over the course of the evening a capacity 120 attendees enjoyed in full the 11 available beers and 2 ciders! The organisers were very much involved in a team effort and clearly relishing what was a very successful event. Everyone took turns to work behind the bar, serve food or sell/ run raffles! Ten beers were available, all sourced from local breweries including Connosseur (St Helens), 4Ts (Warrington), Sandiway (Cheshire) and Seven Brothers (Salford).

The beer quality was superb, and the organisation very slick to run such a successful beerfestival within the scouts premises. The festival and raffles earned a substantive amount for the local scouts to carry on their good work, those visiting enjoyed a first class beer festival and it can now be shouted loudly – Who says there is no demand for real ale in Widnes (Publicans please note!)!

I can only say roll on next years festival and make sure you get your ticket!