Beer festivals galore!

There's no way the well will run dry this summer

If you like beer and cider, and you like festivals, then have we got a great British summer coming up for you – with plenty of events taking place across the region that combine the two. And the variety of opportunities to savour the golden nectar is amazing, with events held in pubs, fields and marquees it means there's something for everyone.

First up there’s the Cambridge Rock Festival in Barton on the 2^nd - 5^th  August, a four-day live rock music extravaganza and beer festival offering over 70 real ales, cider, wine and lagers – music to our ears indeed! Then between 3^rd and 10^th there's the Hopbine Summer Beer & Cider Festival, and this great little pub (which only reopened under new management a year ago) is offering a fantastic selection of local and regional beers and ciders plus comedy nights, acoustic evenings, quizzes and more. On  21^st -25^th August it’s the 35th CAMRA Peterborough Beer Festival which takes place on the Embankment in several large marquees. There’ll be a whopping 350+ real ales, many only available at the festival, plus a large range of ciders, perries, wines and bottled beers. There are also food stalls galore, a funfair for the kids, and your drinking will be accompanied by live music throughout. One not to miss for real ale fans.

That leads us up to the August Bank Holiday, where there are a whole host of beer festivals to keep us entertained over the long weekend. The pick of the crop include the Green Man August Beer Festival in Grantchester between 24^th and 27^th when the ancient pub will have a fantastic selection of over 50 well-sourced local ales as well as exciting regional beers and ciders. Why not cycle there along the river and take a seat in the garden or inside the marquee? You can make yourself comfortable and listen to the sweet tones of live jazz while munching on festival food. The Quy Beer Festival at the White Swan in Stow cum Quy takes place 23^rd - 26^th (children and pets are very welcome) and will showcase award-winning regional and international ales as well as live music and a Caribbean barbecue. The Old Cannon Brewery in Bury St Edmunds holds its beer festival on the 24^th - 26^th, with over 20 beers plus ciders and wines available in the pub and yard, including their own vintage (delicious) Old Cannon beers - there will also be live music in the evenings and a beer festival menu, and if you overdo it the brew pub offers B&B accommodation. And last but not least, on the 24^th - 27^th the Bell Bash takes place at The Bell in Wendons Ambo, near Saffron Walden. The pub's annual charity beer and music festival offers a fabulous range of beers, ciders and perries as well as lots of live music - you can even camp out in their large 3½ acre garden, complete with woodland walk and adventure playground. Your Bank Holiday weekend is sure to finish on a high note!