Beer and cider week reveals bumper schedule across town

The schedule for this year’s event has just been announced by Bolton’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The event is set to kick off next month, from July 2 to 11, and is set to involve bars and breweries from across the borough each hosting their own special events all with their own unique themes.

The pubs from across the community will be doing all they can to champion local businesses, CAMRA said.

CAMRA had to postpone the event last year due to coronavirus restrictions and have been as cautious as possible in selecting their dates for this years event.

With the roadmap out of lockdown currently set to ease fully by June 21, hopes are high that Bolton CAMRA’s Beer and Cider week can go ahead and give people a sense of normality and security.

A past Bolton CAMRA beer festival at The Ukranian Club

CAMRA said they hope the event achieves four aims: “Promote quality real ale, cider and perry; provide opportunities to learn more about production and styles of beer and cider; give opportunities to try a range of beers and ciders; promote and the improve the beer and cider scene in Bolton.”

Keith Sowerby, who is organising the event, said he hopes this event will coincide with “Bolton coming back to life”.

Keith Sowerby, secretary of Bolton CAMRA

“We did our first beer and cider week two years ago which was very popular and lots of people got involved.

“A lot of breweries in Bolton got really involved, all holding their own unique events.

“A lot of places have been on their knees with lockdown so hopefully this week can really champion local businesses.

“Hopefully we can put on a big event this year, highlight our great local pubs and breweries, with Bolton coming back to life out of lockdown.”

Daryl Leach, who runs Bunbury’s in Chorley Old Road, is going to be serving Belgian beers all week to celebrate.

Darryl and Sarah Leech at Bunbury's, Chorley Old Road

He said: “This should be a really nice event to get people back involved at pubs.

“We are very much looking forward to being back open fully again and I’m really hoping this event will really help us kick off.

“This will be a great event for getting people out and about again and doing something a little different.

“People have been asking us about the event for some time now and it’s always great to work with other local breweries with this.”

Inside The Brewery Tap, Blackedge Brewery's bar in Westhoughton

The schedule for the event is as follows:

•  Friday July 2 ­— The Blackedge Brewery Tap, Market Street, Westhoughton. “Watch this space,” they said.
•  Friday July 2 ­— Bunbury’s, Chorley Old Road, Bolton. “Start of Belgian Themed Beer Week at Bolton’s own source of the weird and wonderful in Indie Beer. Five Belgian beers will be on tap, including the extremely rare oak leaf aged Bruin from Brouwers Verzet,” Bunbury’s said.
• Friday July 2 ­— The Beer School, Market Street, Westhoughton. Start of Cider & Perry Week. 
• Saturday July 3 ­— Blackedge Brewery and The Brewery Bar, Moreton Mill, Hampson Street, Horwich. “For Bolton Beer and Cider Week we will for the first time ever offer an open day at the brewery. This is a ticketed event to celebrate our passion…Beer! The price of the ticket is £10 and includes the following:

“One pint of a brand new beer (this wont be on open sale until then end of the event so you will have an exclusive first taster)

Blackedge Brewery's multi award winning West Coast Gold Ale outside The Brewery Tap in Westhoughton

“One local butchers Pork Pie. A chance to take a close up view of our brewery facility and a talk about how we brew and our ethos from our head brewers Wayne Roper and Shaun Reynolds.

“£4 of the ticket price will be donated to a local charity (nominated charity TBC)

“The open day will run from 12pm – 6pm and the tour part of the day will take place every 45 minutes so simply book your chosen time from the options on the following page.”

Visit blackedgebrewery.co.uk/online-store for tickets.

• Saturday July 3 ­— Northern Monkey Brew Co will be hosting ‘Monkey In The Woods’ in association with The Woodland Trust in the beautiful surroundings of Barrow Bridge. Tickets sold outLiam Convey (left) and Ryan Bailey of Northern Monkey Brewing
• Wednesday July 7 ­— The Beer School, Market Street, Westhoughton. Cider & Perry Cheese Pairing (ticketed event). 7pm to 10.30pm.
• Friday July 9 ­— Wayoh Brewery Tap, 3 Lodge Bank, Horwich. “Bolton’s newest brewery, Wayoh specialises in producing varied cask beer, which is mainly sold at their in-brewery tap. As part of the Beer & Cider Week they will be launching a new cask beer at this event starting at 2pm. Proper large soft pretzels will be available from local Bavarian influenced bakery Pretzel & Spelt. There is music from 7pm,” CAMRA said.
• Saturday July 11 ­— ‘The Fourth Rivvy Beer Walk’.

Keith Sowerby said: “This is provisional on the progress of the timetable out of lockdown, relative to the number of people allowed to gather (up to 30, but could split into two), and the capacity of venues to accommodate numbers should restrictions not be lifted.

“Participants can enjoy the bars and pubs of the well provisioned drinking town of Horwich before gathering at the forecourt of The Brewery Bar, Moreton Mill, Hampson Street at 1.30pm before embarking on a gentle 2 mile walk to The Rivington (formerly Rivington Bowling Club), Horrobin Lane, Rivington, BL6 7SE, and finally The Rivington Brewery Tap, Home Farm, Horrobin Lane, Anderton, PR6 9HE, where there will be a special surprise.

“The Rivington can provide pasties, cake and ice cream in addition to cask beers from Sheffield’s Abbeydale Brewery, and fine views.

Graham Walsh (left), Bolton CAMRA chairman, with founder member Bert Kerks

“Now increasingly famous beyond county bounds The Rivington Brewery Tap provides range of cask and craft keg beers. There will be a couple of food outlets to feed our intrepid Beer Walkers.”

More events are set to be announced in the run up to the week.

For more information on the pubs and breweries involved and the events themselves, visit bolton.camra.org.uk/bolton-beer-cider-week-2020.