'Prices remain the same' at Maidenhead Beer Festival next month

Beer prices will remain the same at this year’s Maidenhead Beer and Cider Festival to ‘show faith’ to loyal punters.

More than 100 samples of beer, cider and perries will be offered to visitors at the annual event returning on July 5 and 6.

Hosted by the Maidenhead, Windsor and Slough branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) for the 11th year running, more than 1200 visitors are expected across the two dates.

Festival organiser Allan Willoughby said: “Our costs have gone up considerably but to show faith, we have our beer prices at the 2023 prices.

“The hospitality business has been going through a bit of a crisis over the last couple of years, especially since the pandemic. A number of pubs have closed and your average pint of beer, which was always the working man’s measure of wealth, has become expensive.

“What we’ve done is increase the number of visitors we’re hoping [for], increase the admission from £5 to £7 – which is still very modest – and we’ve decided to make less surplus by squeezing our own margins.

“If we keep the prices the same as 2023, it means we are 12 to 15 per cent worse off. But if we can make savings elsewhere and get more people to visit us then – our expectation is not to make as big a surplus – we’re a not-for-profit organisation anyway. We don’t sell out to make tons of money.”

He said the marquee is 50 per cent bigger this year to protect guests from the elements, adding: “If the weather is inclement, then you don’t sell your beer because people don’t turn up. This summer has been pretty lacklustre to say the least so I think we’re planning on that continuing.”

Around 50 cask ales, 10 craft keg beers and 25 ciders will be available for sampling at the NMCC Sports Bar at Summerleaze Park, where the festival is returning for a third year. These will be joined by a further 25 or more ciders and perries, wines and soft drinks.

Allan said: “This year’s a bit complicated because we’ve got the General Election the day before so we’re hoping there’s not too much of a hangover into the Friday.

“Also, we’ve got competition with the Euros 2024 [as] there’s a very good chance England get through to the quarter-finals and we need to cater for that so we will have big screens in our marquee. We hope it doesn’t interfere too much with our wall-to-wall entertainment.”

Music and live entertainment will feature across the two days, a pizza wagon will be available and a special beer and cheese tasting session will give visitors an ‘opportunity to indulge’.

Beer and cheese are 'traditional partners' at CAMRA's Maidenhead Beer Festival and the 90-minute session will be led by ‘distinguished’ beer tutor and master trainer, Christine Cryne at 2pm on Friday (July 5).

New Royal Borough Mayor, Cllr Simon Bond will ‘pull the first pint’ and be joined by Town Crier, Chris Brown, who will return to recite an entertaining festival proclamation.

Allan said they hope to raise more than £700 for their chosen charity, Maidenhead Foodshare, from which trustees will also attend.

Maidenhead Beer and Cider Festival takes place on Friday, July 5 from 12pm to 11pm and the same time on Saturday, July 6.

Advance tickets are available on the website for £5 and £7 on the door. CAMRA members receive £2 worth of beer tokens.

Visit the website for more: https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/238/maidenhead-beer-cider-festival-2024