Real ale fans may have spotted that there's Beer Festival on at the Tonbridge Juddians Rugby Club this weekend. All w/e by the looks of it. There's a massive marquee at the back of the club house, looks very well organised from what I could see. Hoping to pay a visit there tomrrow to sample some of the fine and unusual selection of real ales and ciders. I'm leaving the car at home so there won't be any reason to go anywhere the wheel of my car! Judging by the poster (above) there are over 30 breweries there and over a hundred different beers. There's never any trouble at these largely middle class events but if there is then the rugby club boys will no doubt be on hand to nip it in the bud....
9 comments:
I would have dropped in to this but my partner and I had second thoughts as we thought it was just for the rugby club or rugby inclusive. Nice idea but it would be great if advertised for everyone.
Twas fantastic. Quid in, free glass, no crowds and a million different beers to try.
Apologies to anyone's car I hit on the way out. No sign of Mr Books, but Mr Bailey was doing a sterling job on the CAMRA stall.
Fantastic.
Got back from the festival earlier this evening. An excellent event, with some really good ales to sample, and certainly not the end of "civilisation as we know it", as predicted by some people!
My only criticism is "where was everybody?". You couldn't have wished for better weather, or a more quintessentially English setting, yet once again Tonbridge showed its usual indifference and apathy by failing to turn up in sufficient numbers to support the event.
Full marks to Tonbridge Juddians for hosting such a marvellous event, but shame on you people of Tonbridge for not turning out to support it (was the tennis really worth staying at home for?)
I'll be posting some further thoughts regarding the festival on my own blog. Am tempted to throw in the odd facetious comment about drink driving and wife-beating, but seeing as Petrol Station Village Idiot seems to have disappeared off the radar, there's not a lot of mileage in that anymore!
ps. First Anonymous poster, you would have been pleasantly surprised if you had put your prejudices aside and popped in.
ps to Paul Bailey
You have misunderstood - these were not prejudices. Far from it. If you read the advertising blurb it really did sound like an inclusive event for the rugby club with matches going on the big screen. The event was mis- marketed. I would sack the agency or marketing team if I were to organise it. That's why it didn't attract the numbers. If it had been advertised as an event for Tonbridge and not a club event there would have been loads of people there. We hesitated and didn't know if we should go. There were images on the advertising of rugby and no mentioned of anything else but rugby and beer - so what do you expect. It is not because we are apathetic or indifferent. We are certainly not enormous beer drinkers but enjoy socialising and supporting local events. It was mis-managed I am afraid and that is such a shame for the event organisers and for all those who may have come along if the advertising and marketing were more inclusive to non-rugby people. That is your answer Mr. Bailey.
Unfortunately, myself and a couple of friends could only get there an hour before they closed yesterday. The organisers were so helpful. Free entry because it was late - help choosing some woderful beers from a huge selection - quality (and cheap) burgers - full body massages from an enthusiastic lady. What more could you want! Next year I will spend a full day or two there, with as many friends as I can muster.
Well its a good sign that the people of Tonbridge are not a load of drinkers. This is far from being a shame. It shows that the people of Tonbridge are a responsible lot and put their families first with better things to do on a Sunday afternoon. I trust that those that do like a drink were supporting their normal local establishment in these difficult times.
Thank-you for your reply to my comments, anonymous. You make a fair point about the marketing of the beer festival being a bit mis-leading, and I think it's one that is worth passing on to the organisers. (I know that at least one of them reads Tonbridge Blog). It may well explain why the numbers attending, were on the low side.
If it were the apprentice they would have all been bladdy fired. Should've been drumming up support in the high street. Weatherspoons was rammed Sun afternoon.
I think that the entrance price puts people off. If you have a couple one of whom are not drinkers why would they pay £10 (not sure what the entrance price was now while writing)to get in. No! I think that is so doubtful. If the festival was open for all to just drop in whether it were for something to eat and just be interested in the number of beers available, to take in the stmosphere, music or whatever there was and have a pint or two if they wished, I honestly believe there would be more people, and a wider range of the general public dropping in. Sunday was a warm and sunny day. England is hopeless at targeting the public. A little thinking out of the box might not go amiss.
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