Picture this… A beautiful sunny day - Dozens of families having picnics on the grass – The savoring of tasty pies and pasties - Children playing in the playground - Men and women enjoying quality ale and cider – Gifted bands playing for enjoyment - Crowds dancing and applauding - A red army of volunteers giving great service - The sounds of happiness and laughter - Legends, celebrities and brewers mixing with villagers and visitors – The local and national press, television stars and radio interviews.
…These were the sights and sounds of Clifford Champion Beer Festival on July 2nd at our very own village hall.
Our goal was simple. Create something fun that generates much needed funds to support special community causes. We are delighted to announce that we made a far greater profit than last year and every penny will be split to support both the Clifford Village Hall and help buy those much needed changing rooms for Clifford Football Club.
Over 800 people drank the ciders, real ales, wine and lager dry… “Such a perfect day!" “This is the best Beer Festival in the area. The beer is as good as the Great British Beer Festival!” exclaimed one excited couple from Wetherby when I asked them if they were enjoying the day. 200 people through the door in half an hour echoed this excitement.
The day started with a radio interview on local Tempo FM. I mentioned everything thing on my list. Of course the real thing I should have been plugging was the brilliant sun and beautiful lawns on the village hall grounds I was sat in. In many ways these were what made the day so special and unique. Which other local village hall has grounds like this?
We formed a close working partnership with the four bands this year. The Boston Spa Guitar Club mesmerised us. Our very own Champion Band Rough Edge energised us. Nate and the Dogs had us howling “MORE!” This Way Up brought us back from the dead with their seven encore set! Jeff the drummer from headline act This Way Up summed up my favourite part of the day when he later told me how wonderful it was watching the red army of bar staff dancing up and down the bar as Calendar Girl, Christine Talbot, snapped away with the photographers camera. …Cheers for starting the bar dance Allison and Richard!
Speaking of CAMRA, the first drinks to sell out on the day were all the ciders closely followed by Castle Rock Harvest Pale – quite fitting for the current Supreme Champion Beer of Britain. The fastest selling beer of the day was our first reserve Elland Beyond The Pale which sold out in 30 minutes!!! The visitors and villagers voted the ever popular Ilkley Mary Jane as the Gold Beer of the Festival. Closely followed by new brewery Kirkstall and the Festival Special brew for Yorkshire born England Cricketer Ryan Sidebottom called Siddy’s Outswinger, the coriander and orange peel wheat beer by Picktish lured people in with Siren and Elland’s Supreme Champion 1872 Porter.
Champion Brewers from Brown Cow, Elland and Ilkley mixed with television celebrities sponsors, visitors and villagers of all ages to create a wonderful family friendly atmosphere. MP Greg Mulholland arrived to support our third community cause, the Save the Pub campaign. Greg had already attracted the interest of the Sunday Mirror and there photographer was at the hall bright and early snapping photo’s of our beautiful bar staff pulling pints of Ilkley Save The Pub.
They drank well, had fun, ate well and left chilled. …Roll on next year.
Article by Tim dedicated to Allison, Andy, Chris, Janet, Lyn and Richard. Special thanks to The Legend (aka Jimmy Farthing), our sponsors, suppliers, brewers, bakers, bands, our red army of valiant volunteers and, of course, the hundreds of visitors and villagers who together created this perfect day.
Please contact us with any feedback on the event or to volunteer to help or sponsor next years Clifford Champion Beer Festival on 30th June 2012. A must for all Clifford villagers!
