The Chailey Beer Festival

It was sunny when we left Brighton. We crossed the South Downs into cloud cover and arrived at our friends' house to be met with a blustery wind and a sprinkling of rain. It did not bode well. Graeme's wife, Anne, drove Graeme, Graham and me to the Beer Festival location - a large open sport field in North Chailey. We surrendered our tickets, received a wrist band to exit and enter again (wishful thinking on the part of the organisers) and looked around this very large open space. Four portaloos, a bouncy castle (at a beer festival?!), two stages for the bands appearing, a hog-roast, a burger bar and one beer tent, open on all sides... There must have been around fifty stalwart people on this large sport-field!

We made our way to the beer tent expecting a large selection of real ales. There were five... We ordered three pints of Harveys Best Bitter (4.0%) brewed by Harveys in Lewes and sat at one of the few tables on offer.

Graham and Graeme

Yours truly

We sat and listened to Lady M & the Mr Men pumping out rock arias at high volume. Strewth! Time to move on to three pints of St Austell Tribute (4.2%) brought all the way from Cornwall and returned to our seats in time for John McDevitt, a particularly talented folk/rock singer accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. Much better.

The next pint was Long Man Golden Tipple (5.0%) from a brewery in Littlington, East Sussex - so certainly 'local'. I sat and contemplated the new Brasher boots - at least they kept my feet warm, apart from the rest of me that was slowly icing up in the cold weather!

Brasher boots - comfy and warm...

The next band, Newick Folk, came on at 5:00pm (dull as ditchwater!) and helped us to make the decision to make a hurried departure and retire across the road to The Kings Head public house.  The pub was warm and welcoming. We ordered our food and had a thoroughly enjoyable meal accompanied by further 'refreshments'.

At 7:00pm a quick 'phone call to Anne secured our transport back home to the warmth of 'Swan Cottage' and some Saturday night TV.

The Festival was disappointing, which had much to do with the inclement weather. I expect that the organisers had much to regret. A shame.