The excitement of my birthday weekend (the first of two, which is perhaps overly decadent) began on Friday with the trip from Norwich to Cardiff. After Liam had picked me up in his rather lovely car, of which much more on later, we collected Ross and headed to Greggs.
I get a free Greggs drink every week and I went for the Mint Mocha and it didn’t disappoint.
Liam had secretly planned the Saturday activity, but it was evident that it was likely to be heavily amended due to the rain. He went off to make his secret call and came back with a hamburger for me, which was suitably delicious. He’s a very good friend.
Safely into Banbury and the first charge of the weekend.
We were meeting up with Richard at Gloucester Services and that proved to be just a little too upmarket for some of us, but Richard enjoyed his coffee as nothing is too upmarket for him.
I like services with a Greggs as I have simple tastes, but for those who want to buy artisan bread, there’s that option here.
We then drove to Tiny Rebel (by we, I mean Liam and Richard) which I’ve already written about. With that we arrived at Mercure Cardiff North hotel, but more about that in future posts….
After the bravery that Liam and I showed at the mud run, I partially limped to the beer festival as I’m brave like that.
Ivan, once again, demanded to be in a photo. But, he’s the Social Secretary of the local CAMRA group, he loves the publicity. And I can remind my loyal blog readers that he leads coach trips for members (and non members) to see pubs around Norfolk and not just those in Norwich.
It had been a busy Saturday and they’d taken the decision to stay open throughout the day, rather than having two separate sessions. There was also the surprise and delight to the glasses team that the credit card machines stopped working. I picked an opportune moment not to be there….
And thank you to the lovely Paula for sorting out food for me.
Thanks Paula! The turkey Yorkshire pudding wrap with gravy on the side, very nice. And paired marvellously with the Electric Currant from Mikkeller, a gentle, blackcurrant and smooth little sour.
There’s the cider bar set-up, although I didn’t manage to actually have a single cider during any of the beer festival. Next year I hope to do better in that regard.
Ivan, making farmyard animals out of blu-tac, with the wonderful and formidable arm of Jen to the right hand side.
And really is the end of Norwich Beer Festival 2025 now, unless there are some fringe events still lingering on that I don’t know about. It was a marvellous volunteering experience, I enjoyed it all and it was wonderful to meet some new people as well as old friends (literally old in some cases). Hopefully we’ll be back at the Halls next year as I hear that there will be some exciting changes, so I must actually get to some of the planning meetings.
After my volunteering efforts at Redwell and the Waterfront, I wasn’t going to go down to the third part of the beer festival at Castle Social. However, when I was sent a photo of Roy’s badge, I couldn’t not go down and visit…..
And there is the lovely Roy and Sue.
All looked well organised and calm, but glasses & token is a very well run area.
This is usually the only bar at Castle Social, but for three days only, there were tens of cask and keg beers available from Norwich Beer Festival. I heard several people mention that they didn’t know that this floor was here, so hopefully the whole event boosted Castle Social a little.
I thought that I’d pop to the Curiosity Bar to see what delicious keg beers were available.
And Ivan rushed over as it’s always lovely for him to see me.
Cheers!
I only stayed for around 45 minutes, but it was suggested that I might pop back the following evening. Which I did, so that means another post is coming shortly…. Oh the anticipation! And once again, a marvellous effort from all the volunteers who had to have this venue all ready the day after Waterfront closed. It’s all been quite a logistical challenge, but all the months of planning paid off.
Yesterday (Wednesday 29 October 2025) was the third and final day of the Waterfront part of the beer festival, although it now moves to Castle Social in the Castle Quarter.
For this final day, I moved to the ticket desk for a bit to staff operations (this area was a remote operating ground for glasses & tokens, away from our central base), with Martin ably assisting me which was very noble as he had a cold draft rushing towards him. He is a former festival organiser and what he doesn’t know about CAMRA isn’t really worth knowing.
Sue never stops working, here she is checking the glasses and planning her next toffee.
It was thought easier just to move the beer nearer to me, this was the end of the Wiper & True Sunset Dreams Rhubarb Margarita.
And some Kriek. That’s not my spelling could I just mention here.
Here is Andy looking longingly at me, he was one of our glasses team earlier in the week who was back as a customer. He’s another one that Roy and I will let come back next year, we’ve had that discussion. There isn’t actually anyone we won’t let back to be fair.
Ivan was on top form once again and I say this primarily as he brought me sweets and crisps, it’s that kind of attention to detail that gets so much praise. Here he is offering his latest suggestions to Sandy.
I heard a rumour that there were free sausage rolls available at the cider stand. I think I was the first there…. These were quite delicious but I wouldn’t have wanted more than 17.
And on the same theme, the free food option was pie and I was delighted at this. Here’s the steak and ale pie, with chips and gravy. Very lovely.
Some of the wooden casks.
Roy and Chris busy sign removing as the takedown began.
I don’t interfere with the cellar team, which is unofficially headed by Ivan (I don’t know if the cellar team know this), but I did take some cooler jackets off. This is the limit of my cellar competence, so I withdrew quickly after this in case I broke something. Or myself.
And that was then time at the bar. I might have some videos of Ivan calling time to surprise and delight my loyal blog readers. Both of them.
The takedown begins in earnest. Now everything gets moved back to the beer store or to Castle Social.
I’ve already written about days one and two at the Waterfront, and also at Redwell, so now it’s time for me to list my favourite beers from the last few days. So that’s anything I’ve rated as 4 or above on Untappd (and hello to my new Untappd friends this week!). Ooooh, beer friends…
This Circle is You from Pentrich Brewing (soft, hazy and fruity)
Mango Unchained from Elephant School Brewing Co (lots of mango, fruity and robust)
Berry Sour from Five Points Brewing Company (delicious, raspberries, fruit, gently tart and just a bit decadent)
Stupid & Contagious from Liquid Light Brew Co (very agreeable, stone fruit, hazy and delicious)
Imperial Stout from Lacons (smooth, rich and decadent)
Chicha Sour from Hammerton Brewery (gently sour, fruity, fluffy and delicious)
Lord Wimount from Moon Gazer (caramel, malty and sweet)
Lamanva from Verdant (malty, biscuity, fluffy)
Mild from Penzance Brewing Company (a very decent milk, creamy, chocolate and biscuity)
Knock the Corners from Howling Hops (toffee and biscuit, nicely rounded)
Stay Rad from Nene Valley Brewery (citrusy, dry and good with chocolate)
Peanut Butter Stout from North Riding Brewery (chocolate and peanuts, smooth and nearly decadent)
Dia De Los Muertos from Hammerton Brewery (a lot of chilli on this, but chocolate as well and interesting)
Cherry Porter from Mr Winters (cherry, chocolate and smooth)
Many thanks to Craig and the volunteer team for having so many delicious beers, and I will continue to ignore his comments about my not liking beer that tastes of beer 🙂 I’m not volunteering this weekend but I’ll likely go and annoy someone by popping in to see the event at Castle Social.
Hopefully next year we’ll be back at the Halls, but the Waterfront team were very helpful throughout, with the venue proving to be a really decent back-up.
I didn’t mention some elements of the beer festival at the Waterfront, but the venue has been a really handy location with the Halls out of action. Here’s the cider bar on the second of the three days at the venue.
The outside of the venue with the food stand on the left.
Some very reasonable prices for a festival.
There’s the JD Wetherspoon over the river and the Waterfront on the right hand side.
The upstairs seating area.
The Waterfront is a live music venue and they have boards of these tickets from past events on display.
Ready to go and scan tickets in the queue.
The formidable and wonderful Sue.
Ivan was on top form today, so I have no complaints about him which might come as a surprise. He was busy serving customers at the Waterfront and also went to help with the set-up at Castle Social where the festival moves tomorrow. I hope it won’t disappoint him, but I was very impressed with how agreeable he was. And he got me crisps so that boosted my opinion of him further.
Chris alerted to this new beer going on and it did indeed surprise and delight.
Team glasses of Sue, Paula and Roy. It was another lovely evening, wonderful customers and lots of positive comments about the organisation of the beer festival.
I had rather set my heart on pie, but the food kindly provided was sausage and mash, which is much appreciated. Roy and I briefly mentioned to Craig that he could perhaps acquire us some pies, but we didn’t want to cross the line into being annoying so we left the matter.
I didn’t take a photo of Craig yesterday, but I didn’t forget today. He of course is just part of the volunteering team that has put this event together, but without him and others this event wouldn’t have taken place, so many thanks to him and everyone else.
I was delighted that there were no complaints about my summary of the first part of Norwich Beer Festival, so I thought what would happen if I started writing a daily update about the second stage at the Waterfront (it’s on the Waterfront from 28 to 30 October 2025). Here’s the pre-opening set-up of Ivan, offering advice, Roy, who doesn’t need advice, and Andy, who is quite demanding.
The state of affairs before the trade session.
In terms of the amount of beer, the Waterfront is the main event for the beer festival this year. Although there will be lots at Castle Social as well.
Some of the cellar team visible, they’re part of a large volunteer effort which makes all this come together. It was at this point that Roy decided that he wanted to rearrange quite a lot of the glasses and token stand, which Craig was delighted to hear but everything was moved efficiently and effectively. Apologies I didn’t get any photos of Craig, our brilliant festival organiser, but he once again delighted me with the beers that he had purchased. He even went completely rampant at the end and had a 3.9% beer, so I hope he’s OK today.
It looks simple from the front, but there’s a lot of cooling going on here.
Ivan, ready for action but just having a little break.
Whilst I was looking for a real ale, I actually stumbled upon the curiosity bar with its exciting keg options. Chris had read the first part of this blog series about Redwell and I was surprised and delighted to find someone so competent with regards to what beers he likes. I’ve decided that Chris seems to be as talented as the glasses & token team, so anyone coming to the beer festival should perhaps head towards his section for at least one beer. And pastry sours are absolutely proper beers.
And my friend Mark, a director of CAMRA and one of the most knowledgeable people in the world of saving pubs. He’s up against a lot, but he battles on tirelessly and we need more campaigners like him in the organisation.
After letting in the customers for the main session, I went for my pie which today was chicken and mushroom. Very lovely with the chips and gravy. Thanks also to the staffing team for looking after my supply of crisps and cheese straws for the day. I’m looking forwards to the pies on days two and three, I don’t get bored of such fine cuisine.
Ivan on his break.
Behind the bars during a quieter period.
It’s like Rodin’s ‘the Thinker’.
Sue came to help at the glasses and token stand and she’s been helping at Norwich Beer Festival since around 1984 she confirmed. She’s really growing in confidence recently and has been declared by Roy and myself as a team member of great competence. We don’t do that lightly.
Ivan on a break with Oli, Ian and Mark in the background.
And that’s it for the first day. It was lovely as ever to see Oscar, the shy landlord of the White Lion, or it was until he jumped on me. Nathan has got him on a new health and fitness regime for the last few games of the bar billiards series (Oscar doesn’t know this yet) so we’ll see how that goes.
I stayed late on this one as it’s not an onerous walk home. This was a really marvellous first day, lots of happy punters and some great volunteers to work with.
As the Halls are out of action for renovation and repair, Norwich Beer Festival is split into three separate events this year, at Redwell Brewery, the Waterfront and Castle Social. It might not be the same, but it’s great to still do something and there are lots of fringe events also taking place.
There’s Craig at the bar before we opened, he’s in charge of organising everything. He’s good at that and he’s agreeable (unless commenting on pastry sours) so people like helping.
There was ten minutes to opening by this point.
Assistant to the regional manager 🙂
The keg selection.
Soon after opening.
Here’s Ivan (photographed in between his many breaks, but I didn’t comment) adding black pepper and Tabasco to my Bloody Mary beer. Ivan revealed that he turned up at 09:00 to drink the beer, but I didn’t like to say anything. Ivan, who is the resident cellar manager expert, also did a breakfast time interview with BBC Radio Norfolk which I think went well.
Thanks Jen! Chicken bakes are good for the soul. Jen was top notch at providing lifts and snacks, so Roy and I have decided she will be allowed back.
Having a drink to celebrate ITV featuring us live on their news programme.
Ian doing the interview in his role as chair of Norwich CAMRA.
Thanks to CAMRA for supplying us pizza. Well, and beer.
Some Morris dancers performing outside.
Ah, crisps and beer. A healthy and well balanced diet such as this is why I’m able to walk such long distances.
Lucy making Roy appear in one of her training videos. You can see how surprised and delighted he was. Roy is the very competent, and hugely laid back, manager of glasses and tokens. I could genuinely accidentally destroy every glass and he’d calmly find a solution. I hope that I keep up with his beer deliveries during the three days.
Oli dancing to the band on Sunday afternoon. There’s a video of this appearing in the next post.
And my favourite beer of the first part of the festival, the Corporate Conference from Left Handed Giant. A delicious and decadent pastry sour, 6.5% of mango fruitiness, this was thick and tasty. Craig had purchased a lot of beer and he wanted me to taste all of them (twice on some occasions), so I’ll let people look through my Untappd account if they want more details about the beers.
And the lovely Oli after her dancing. It was all a bit raucous for me, I had a pizza and beer instead.
Huge thanks to everyone at CAMRA who has organised this, I thought it went really well and every customer I spoke to enjoyed it. There are a lot of planning meetings and huge amounts of work behind the scenes, the organising committee deserves a lot of praise in my humble view. I ignored the comments from Craig and Ian about my beer choices (such as the “Julian seems to like all beers that don’t taste of beer”), I can’t be limited to just twiggy stuff, my life needs pastry sours, rich porters (preferably with fruit) and beers with ginger and cinnamon in. A great success I think and I’m looking forwards to the next part of the festival which is as the Waterfront from Monday 27 October.
Another article in the Norwich Mercury of 200 years ago this week. Now, I accept this has little to do with Norwich, but it’s some early form of royal gossip of which there has been plenty more over the last 200 years. The story is likely true, as King George IV made only one more visit to Brighton following this story and he had made huge efforts to make the Brighton Pavilion a decadent and suitable home.
Its future as a residence for the Monarch was already reaching its end. King William IV did use it, but Queen Victoria wasn’t that surprised and delighted with it, so she sold it to the City of Brighton in 1850.
And another in my series of articles in the Norwich Mercury of 200 years ago this week. Back in 1825, if a man abandoned his wife and children without paying any support then he would face consequences from the local parish. Under the Poor Laws and Vagrancy Acts, if his deserted family became chargeable to the parish, local overseers could apply for his arrest and he could be punished as a rogue and vagabond, facing imprisonment or hard labour. The law’s primary concern was protecting the parish purse, not enforcing domestic responsibility, so prosecution generally occurred only when abandonment led to public expense as was the case here.
The £5 reward was a generous one, that’s worth over £250 in today’s money. The village of Beddingham is around ten miles south of Norwich and it’s clear that they were displeased that they were left funding William’s wife and children. It’s an interesting snapshot of the benefits system of the time, which did ensure at least that women and children were looked after.
