The 20th Stoke (CAMRA) Beer Festival had just about everything - the largest range of different beers ever in the Potteries, temperament entertainers; and the first national petrol shortage since the 1970s.

Beer orderer Tony Beech’s tactic for the year 2000 festival was to order most of the beer in 9-gallon (firkins) casks instead of the usual 18 or 36 gallon casks (kilderkins and barrels). This enabled him to order a greater variety of beers than previously, which Tony exploited by ordering mainly from micro breweries and small independents. Even seasoned festival goers admitted that at Stoke they were spoilt for choice.

Added to that, the beer quality was generally very good. The use of air conditioning units and bubble-wrap tents’ around the stillages kept the temperature well below the ambient temperature of the hall.

As usual, all the cider and perry was sold, and the ever popular foreign beer bars did good trade.

Thursday evening’s entertainers, Hale Street Stompers, almost became casualties of the petrol shortage, and had to be driven to the festival by publicity and entertainment officer. David Howell.

On Friday evening, Barflys played in front of the largest ever crowd to attend a Stoke Beer Festival, and were simply the best! They played almost until midnight, and the crowd still wanted more! Thanks lads!

Saturday’s Oompah show, Von Winkler’s Band, were well received, though they were not quite as boisterous as previous oompah shows. However, in front of the large Saturday night audience they went down well.

The total number of 5,150 persons were registered attending the four days of the festival. However more than half of those attending did so on Friday and Saturday evenings. If the festival had been held at the King’s Hall, the venue for the first 17th Stoke festivals a thousand people would have been turned away due to the fire limit - perhaps the Student’s Union, with its higher capacity, has now proved itself!!.

Publicity Officer, David Howell, did a splendid job ensuring that everyone who attended knew the festival was ON, in spite of the Petrol Crisis. Thanks to First PMT, Radio Stoke, Signal Radio and The Sentinel for keeping everyone informed.

Financially, the festival was a success. CAMRA only ever intends to break even and to retain working capital to stage the next festival, and this goal was achieved. In previous years some of the profit has gone towards making donations to local charities. Perhaps this may be possible next year!

Front Page Pub of the Year 2000 Pints of View Belgium in a Bottle Try the N/4

Potteries Pub Preservation Group Pub News Titanic News Beartown Brewery Letters

Return to Potters Bar Home Page