Newbury Real Ale Festival gets underway at Northcroft

More than 2,000 people gather as rain subsides and weather improves at today's (Saturday) festival

The eighth annual Newbury Real Ale festival is well and truly underway at Northcroft this afternoon (Saturday).

The festival officially started at noon, with live bands, food and music all available in copious amounts.

By 3pm, more than 2,000 people had come through the gates and the organisers say they are hopeful that the sun would come out after a earlier spell of rain left many people soaking wet.

Organiser Sara Dutfield said: “It has been a great success so far. The music is going down really well, and the food and the drink is flowing. We hope the weather holds up, as the Met Office predicted.”

Her views are backed up by many of the visitors, Kate Tolhurst, from Newbury, said: “I love it here. We have come for the last four years and every year is better than the last.”

Meanwhile, American visitors, Randi McDonald and Ken Johnson were bemused by the atmosphere, and the customs. Both said they enjoyed watching the nearby cricket match, though didn't say whether they found it a bit slow compared to baseball. Mr Johnson said: “You could never have a festival like this in the US, because kids wouldn't be allowed in.”

He said he loved sampling the local beers and ciders.

Amongst the live entertainment that will feature are Newbury's own rock band Parallax, who will be headlining, but there will also be R&B, and ska, amongst many other genres played throughout the day.

The proceeds from the festival will go to Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club and to Naomi House.

Tickets cost £5, which includes a free glass and one drink token or £10 with a glass and six drink tokens. Drink tokens are four for £5. Half pints of ale cost either one or two tokens each. Cider and perry are one token per half pint.

For more information, visit http://www.hockey.rathmeile.org/RAF/RAF_Bands_and_Music.asp?strSection=Bands_and_Music.