Jul
In just two days CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale will turn an Edinburgh concert venue into the biggest pub in Scotland. Over 150 beers from 70 different breweries will be on offer at the Scottish Real Ale Festival which runs from Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13 at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange on New Market Street in the city’s Slateford area.
Festival organiser Owen Bell said: “Beer lovers from across Scotland and around the globe will be heading to Edinburgh to sample the very best of Scottish beer, which we at CAMRA consider to be among the finest in the world.
“There will be beers of all styles from light, hoppy golden ales to robust stouts and porters from breweries from the Northern Isles to the Borders.”
There are two major additions to the festival this year: an outdoor ‘beer garden’ with seating will be set up and gourmet caterers Bankhouse Catering, whose dishes such as venison burgers have proven incredibly popular with CAMRA festival goers in the past, are being brought in to feed hungry ale-quaffers.
Entertainment comes from singer and guitarist Andrew Gordon on the Friday evening and the Caledonian Brewery Pipe Band on the Saturday afternoon.
There will also be competition to win T shirts for those who sample beers from different parts of the country.
The festival is open from noon until 11pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday and from 12.30pm until 4pm on the Sunday. Entry is £6 (£4 for CAMRA members) on the first three days and £3 (£2 for CAMRA members) on the Sunday. Festival goers receive a souvenir glass which acts as a ticket for free re-entry after their first visit.
The Edinburgh Corn Exchange is easy to get to using the Lothian Buses 35 service from the High Street or Bistro Square areas, the 4 or 44 from Dalry Road, next to Haymarket station or by train from Glasgow Central to Slateford.
Owen Bell added: “The Scottish Real Ale Festival is the world’s biggest showcase event for Scottish beer and Scottish brewing.
“This is the third year the festival will be held at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange after many years at the Assembly Rooms on George Street and we look forward to showing the world, once again, just how good Scottish real ale is.”
For more information, go to www.scotttishbeerfestival.org.uk
Many of the premises involved in Scotland’s Pubs & Bars: A Story to Tell are supporters of CAMRA with a great section of real ales. Download our app to find pubs in your area.
