Tonbridge's first beer festival....

Quite a few people have commented about the South East Beer Festival, held in Tonbridge over the weekend. Some were impressed, some not so. I now feel ever so slightly guilty having not been able, not felt like, forgot, had something else on, had to finish my book, had to get the grass cut before it chucked down, had to phone my sister, had to sort the car out, and all those other excuses to go myself in the end. From what I saw though having peered behind the rugby club a couple of times it did look reasonably well attended, although that really is just a passer by's snap shot. I'm not quite sure how many people they expect at such events. Perhaps one comment on this post had it spot on when they said that it appeared to be a rugby club event. It was at the TJs clubhouse, the large marquee was pretty well hidden behind it and the posted had two rugby players passing a beer barrel to each other (instead of a ball, geddit?) which on reflection was a little confusing to the potential visitor. I know myself from organising book fairs and other cultural events in Tonbridge that it can be very difficult on a low PR and advertising budget, to get people their on the day, that said their are enough visitors usually to make these events work. Perhaps as the event gets more established there, if they decide to keep it at the Tonbridge Juddians clubhouse that is, and the organisers get the message across that it isn't just for rugger buggars, it will work much better. After all they couldn't have had better weather conditions. At the risk of being slated by Paul Bailey, a regular commenter on this blog and also a proper real ale connoiseur, I might also suggest that maybe just maybe though, thinking about it, many people prefer like me to drink gassy lager in hot weather, instaed of all that treacley and hoppy stuff. Or isthat a hangable offence in CAMRA circles!!..