The popular October beer festival at Weymouth’s Ocean Room was the best ever, says the West Dorset branch of the Campaign for Real Ale [CAMRA.]
“Ticket sales were up, we sold more beer and we’re flooded with messages of congratulation from happy festivalgoers,” says West Dorset CAMRA Chairman Dave Harris. “All four sessions were almost sold out with about 1300 customers. We even heard that the Weymouth Street Pastors noticed groups of ‘happy people’ in the town after the festival! We have booked 3 and 4 October 2014 for our beer festival at the Ocean Room- so be sure to put it in your diaries!”
CAMRA’s October beer festival moved to the Ocean Room in 2011 and the bayside venue is considered a major part of the event’s success “There is universal praise for the Ocean Room from our members and customers, some of whom travel hundreds of miles to join us for the weekend,” says CAMRA spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins. “With much more seating and spectacular views across the bay, we don’t think there is a better venue in the area,” he continued. “We’re all delighted to see the Pavilion open again, a great asset to the town. Thanks to Phil Say and his team for making us so welcome.”
New this year was a box at the exit where festivalgoers could donate surplus beer tickets. This raised £169 for the Community Interest Company running the Pavilion, to which West Dorset CAMRA added £400 as donation- over and above the room hire fee.
During the two days of the beer festival, most of 70 casks of real ale were consumed, containing some 5,000 pints, all from South West breweries- including 18 from Cornwall, 18 from Bristol & Somerset, 13 from Devon, 12 from Dorset and nine from Wiltshire. In addition, eleven ciders and perries were available
The popular venue at the Ocean Room had been in doubt earlier this year, when Weymouth & Portland Borough Council closed the Pavilion complex in May. The festival was held for eight years at Brewer’s Quay, but closure of the Hope Square attraction in early 2011 forced a move. Transferring to the Ocean Room in 2011 meant more real ale drinkers could be accommodated, with more seating available.
Festivalgoers voted Pesky Pirate Porter from the new Bournemouth Brewery as the CAMRA Beer of the Festival, “full of chocolate and crystal malt flavours, with a cool lingering hop finish,” says the programme.　
West Dorset CAMRA Chairman Dave Harris presented the certificate to brewer Chris Mathers at a special event in the Pavilion’s Crows Nest, to thank the 51 volunteers who contributed so much effort to the success of the two-day festival.
The Bournemouth microbrewery, actually based in Poole’s Nuffield Industrial Estate, began earlier this year and tasted success last month with their Wessex Wobble brew coming second at Poole Beer Festival. Having learnt the art of brewing in South London, Bournemouth-born Chris Mathers has a book of pre-1930 family beer recipes and is enjoying producing and marketing some new distinctive Dorset beers.
CAMRA nationally is celebrating reaching 150,000 members, the most successful consumer organisation in Europe.
Michel Hooper-Immins
