Volunteers hard at work creating town’s biggest beer garden as Newbury Real Ale Festival returns

Volunteers are working around the clock to transform Northcroft Fields into Newbury’s biggest pub garden.

This Saturday, the annual real ale festival returns, with 5,000 people expected to attend the ever-popular event which has raised more than £250,000 for charities over the past 20 years.

This year’s anniversary event will continue a popular format; hundreds of real ales, ciders and perries, as well as gins, rums, soft drinks, and a range of alcohol-free options.

For David Whittingham, one of the organising team alongside Vincent Butler, chairman of the Newbury Real Ale Festival, it is the culmination of a lot of work from a lot of people and the anniversary will be marked across the day.

“We started off with just a few hundred people all those years ago and it has turned into an event which will accommodate over 5,000 people,” he said.

“It’s a great achievement – and it’s all run by volunteers from the Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club.

“This festival goes from strength to strength and over the years we have donated over £200,000 to local charities and good causes and served over 200,000 pints.”

Some of those pints come from West Berkshire breweries, including Renegade based in Yattendon and Tutts Clump Cider in Bradfield.

Mr Whittington said that Johnny Neill’s Berkshire Botanical Gin also played a big part in making the event a success with drinkers.

Those attending Saturday’s event need not worry about the bar running dry.

“We have a very experienced team that have sourced the various drinks, the ales and the ciders,” Mr Whittingham said. “It’s very rare to run out completely, although some of the most popular will sell out.

“But the breweries are on hand to make sure we’re on top and there are lots of contingencies.”

In addition to the hockey club, Mr Whittingham said the festival would not be possible without sponsors, including the Newbury Weekly News, among others.

“We’ve got Champion Scaffolding, Rebound Electronics, Re:Water, Howden Insurance.

“We wouldn’t be able to put on the event without the generous support from our sponsors who, in many cases, support us year on year on year.”

This year, there is a theme of festival attire, and the forecast is looking promising with sunshine and, hopefully, no showers.

“We’re encouraging people to get their festival groove on. It’s going to be an amazing day,” he continued.

“We’ve always been quite lucky with the weather; we call it the last of the summer festival.

“We’ve sold more than 4,000 tickets online, and we’d encourage people to get them in advance. It’s a lower price until last orders on Friday night.

“There will be tickets on the door, but at a slightly higher price.”

One ticket that won’t be available is the VIP area – this option has sold out.

“There is a dedicated area with a Renegade bar for the beers, seating and a prime position to watch the acts. Everyone will be looked after.

“It’s completely sold out this year, so we’re looking at growing the area next year.”

The acts Mr Whittingham refers to are on two stages, and he’s looking forward to hearing them.

“The Faux Fighters, a Foo Fighters tribute act, is headlining, and we have Space Cowboy, a Jamiroquai tribute act.

“Some bands have played with us before, and we have lots of local acts on the acoustic stage.

“And this year we are doing a little taster event we’re calling Sundown. This takes place on Friday from 4pm to 8pm.

“We’ll have a band playing, and there is limited availability. It’s just £5 on the door.”

He can’t wait for the one-day festival to get started and punters raising their glasses to 20 years of good times, and even greater fundraising.

“It’s always, always an amazing event,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the 20th anniversary of Newbury’s biggest beer garden.”