Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival hailed as popular event returns

A popular community event in the summer Hitchin social calendar has returned - to huge acclaim.

The Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival has been merrily welcomed back by our town, after two summers away due to the pandemic.

While the busy festival did make a downsized comeback of sorts last September, thirsty punters were glad to see the beer jamboree make a triumphant return to its regular home at Hitchin Rugby Club.

More than 500 people attended the event on Thursday - that was held on Old Hale Way for the ninth time in its history, following the move from the old town hall in Hitchin Town centre - with numbers set to near the 1,000 mark across Friday.

Tireless co-organiser Dean Barrett spoke to Hitchin Nub News on behalf of all his team, including a large number of volunteers from the Hitchin community.

He said: "There's been a wonderful vibe here, with plenty of people enjoying all we have to offer. It's one really well. A big thank you also to all our sponsors too.

"This festival is really important to our community and it's also really important to us and our three sets of organisers: Camra North Herts, Hitchin Rugby Club and Hitchin Round Table - all not for profit organisations and without events such as this - which we love to do - we don't have any money, so it's really important for our community and it's really important for us.

"It's rocking here and we'd love to see as many people as possible attend."

Attendances are said to be up on 2019, the last pre-Covid festival - which was the second biggest int he event's history - with hopes high that the overall figures will reach, if not exceed, record levels, when Saturday's crowd is factored in.

It's great to be back: Hitchin Beer and Cider Festival returns to acclaim. PICTURE: Two volunteers share a joke. CREDIT: Phil Dickson-Earle

The event has featured 93 cask ales, 18 key keg beers, 70+ international beers, more than 50 cider and perry choices and a mead bar.

Hitchin Rugby Club stalwart and event co-organiser, Peter Tasko manned the tier, perry and mead bar.

He told Hitchin Nub News: "It's great to be back after Covid, we're here with 49 ciders, we've got five perries and we have eight rather nice meads as well, all of which have been going rather quickly.

"We have ciders of all tastes, from the dry to the sweet to the fruity, to the crazy - and the meads are similar - so why not come along and join us, it's great fun.

"From a Hitchin Rugby Club point of view this is one of our major fundraisers every year - we get a good participation from our membership and supporters at the festival - but it's also great to be part of the community.

"I think we've built a really great relationship with Camra over the last ten years, and everyone at the rugby club loves this festival - that's why we have so many people wanting to help out.

"I'd say look outside and see what the weather's like, we've got great food vendors serving wonderful food, we've got 90+ beers and more than 50 ciders - so if you don't want to come down and have a drink in the sun then you need to look at your life very closely."

The beer stall was run by a large number of volunteers, including Mr Martyn Beer.

Mr Beer, who served beer in the beer tent at the beer festival on Friday told Nub News: "Yes, my name is Beer. People who buy beer from me ask me if I have changed my name to beer. I tell them no, I haven't changed my name to beer."

Hitchin resident Danny Pearson was also among the large throng in attendance. He told Nub News on Friday evening: "It's great to be back."

There was also a popular merchandise stall ran by Artystar who offered live screen printing (see Nub News Facebook page for more here, and look out for a future Up Close feature).

The festival attracted 22 sponsors including headline supporters Lyndhurst Financial Management as well as Raymond James Hitchin, who sponsored the Cider, Perry and Mead bar. See the digital programme for a full list.

The event continues into the weekend. Find out how you can buy tickets here

Visit Hitchin Nub News Facebook page here for a number of live videos with organisers, volunteers, merchandise and food stall holders from the event on Friday.

Sponsors

Organisers wish to thank all the event's sponsors including:

Raymond James Investment Services

Buntingford Brewery

Flip Connect

IDNet

Sell What You Know

The Victoria, Hitchin

Casks Sponsored by:

Tysers Insurance Brokers Ltd, Options, John Humphries,

Tim and Debbie Jeffries, Resolution Chemicals Limited,

Burnt Hare Events Limited, Hitchin Veterinary Surgery, Trussells Butchers of Knebworth and Offley,

Little Deli, Holitas Ltd, MNP, Chris Jones,

Kelly Fleet Services, Colin McGowan & Friends, Adrian Warner Media and Friends & Family wishing 'Hoppy 70th Birthday to Steve Robinson'