The hugely popular Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival returned for a third year in the stunning Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on Friday and Saturday July 4 and 5.
Throughout the festival weekend, the 668-year-old Merchant Adventurers’ Great Hall transformed into a Keg Beer Hall, and the atmospheric Undercroft featured a 30-foot Cask Bar featuring 90 different beers, lagers, and ciders from 30 breweries from across the region.
In addition to the ales, were homemade pizzas from Love Cheese, plus live music on the YO1 Radio Station outdoor stage.
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After a 12 noon start on Friday, the event was officially opened at 6pm by Lord Mayor Martin Rowley and the Sheriff of York, Paul Doughty.
Merchant Adventurers’ governor Richard Shaw thanked the breweries and sponsors for their support, as did Lee Grabham, co-founder of Brew York, who also helped organise the event.
Lee also thanked breweries Brass Castle and Half Moon for loaning equipment and York Camra for supplying many volunteers. He also announced the Allan Conner Award for drinkers to choose the best beer, in recognition of popular Camra volunteer and ‘beer guru.’
The magnificent hall (Image: GARETH BUDDO)
Lee later told the Press a ‘record amount’ will be raised and a fourth festival will be held on the same weekend next year.
Sheriff Doughty then performed the traditional duty of tasting the ale and declaring it fit- a task York sheriffs have had perform for centuries.
He told the Press afterwards he particularly enjoyed seeing the great selection of using its expertise and connections to bring them to the city.
Lord Mayor Rowley said the festival is a celebration of the beer producers in the region.
However, for many years, he has been teetotal for health reason, he told the Press.
But he does like zero alcohol beer and in his army days, which included service in the Falklands, he drank “a life’s worth” of beer.
Merchant Adventurer Cllr Ashley Mason told the Press: “The event is an amazing success. It just shows what a great event we can hold in the hall and bring a different crowd and raise £25,000 to £30,000 for charity.
Fellow merchant adventurer Dominic M’Benga of York’s Hooting Owl distillery was attending the event for first time.
Dominic says he has had a hard life, growing up in care, but through hard work had succeeded. He wants to help disadvantaged children and enthuse them and tell them “not everything is lost.”
It is hard for him to do this as CEO of Hooting Owl, but he can as a Merchant Adventurer, he told the Press.
The Trust supports a wide range of education projects, including providing free school visits for over 2000 York primary school children. It also funds a unique business & enterprise course for York teenagers and has launched an apprentice support programme.
Dominic continued: “It’s a great institution. The beer festival is very important. It brings funds into the charitable trust, which then helps the local community.”
Among the drinkers, Robin Buck from Burn was enjoying his first festival.
“It’s absolutely fantastic, it’s a lovely building, with lovely beers.”
Michael Wickham of York said: “It’s not overly busy, there’s the right amount of people.”
Mate ‘Andy’ said: “There’s easy access to the bar. You don’t have to wait long to get service.”
Michael’s brother Richard added he was looking forward to returning Saturday afternoon with around ten family and friends, where they would particularly enjoy the live music outside, as well as the beers and cider.
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