Derby Beer Festival

Every year in Derby the city becomes awash with real ale, cider and beer lovers from all over the country and even abroad for the annual Derby CAMRA Summer Beer festival. Derby is known as the ‘Real ale capital of England’ as it is home to many Breweries producing a vast number of different real ales that are sold nationally and internationally. As a result, the Derby Beer Festival is one of the largest and best in the country

This year the theme of the Derby Beer festival will be to celebrate 40 years of CAMRA, the organisation that campaigns for the promotion of real ale and the preventing the takeover of small local brewers, and as such the offerings and entertainment are set to be even more inviting.

Derby Beer Festival Beers

At this year’s Derby Beer Festival there will be an array of over 150 different types of real ale on sale comprising of a mixture of local real ales, to rare brews and many more well know types of real ale from Derby and around the UK. There will also be an impressive selection of different ciders from both local and national breweries as well as various different continental drinks available.

Real Ales and beers available at previous Beer festivals in Derby have included 99 Red Baboons, Hairy Helmet, Beer Odyssey and Frost Bite.

Derby Beer Festival Dates:

This year’s Beer Festival will be held from Wednesday 6^th July 2011 running through to Sunday 10^th July 2011 in the Assembly Rooms, Derby.

Derby Assembly Rooms Contact Details:

Address: Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH

Telephone: 01332 255800

Derby Beer Festival Opening Times & Dates:

The opening ceremony for the Derby Beer Festival takes place in The Market Place in Derby city centre and comprises of a variety of Beers on sale as well as music and entertainment from a live band.

Wednesday 6^th – Trade sessions between 4.30pm - 6.30pm

Wednesday 6^th – General Public 6.30pm – 11pm

Thursday 7^th – 11.30am – 4pm then 6.30pm – 11pm

Friday 8^th – 11.30am-4pm then 5pm-11pm

Saturday 9^th - 11.30am – 4pm then 6.30pm – 11pm

Sunday 10^th – 12pm-2.30pm

Admission and Ticket Prices for Derby Beer Festival

Wednesday Evening: £3

Thursday Lunch: £1 Evening £5

Friday Lunch: £2, 5pm-6.30pm: £3, Evening £6

Saturday Lunch: £3 Evening £6

Sunday Lunch: Free

Entertainment at Derby Beer Festival

Most of the Assembly Rooms sessions include some form of entertainment including live music and previous years festivals have included tribute acts to popular bands such as Razorlight, Snow Patrol and Kings of Leon as well as a selection of different local bands from Derby and Derbyshire.

Breweries in Derby

Many of Derby’s breweries will be bringing out their produce by the barrel load at this year’s Derby Beer festival in order to offer a taste of the popular as well as the acquired taste to the festival goers and beer lovers of Derby and around the UK.

Some of these Derby Breweries include:

Amber Ales – Located in the Amber Valley, Amber Ales produces award winning modern-style ales using traditional production techniques. PO Box 7277, Ripley, Derbys. Postcode: DE5 4AP

Buxton Brewery – Producing a wide variety of ales and beers which are served as far as Stockport and Manchester. Unit 7E, Staden Business Park, Buxton. Postcode: SK17 9RZ

Derventio Brewery – Based in Trusley this brewery produces 12 cask ales both locally and nationally to the hospitality industry. The Brewhouse, Trusley, Ashbourne, Derbys. Postcode DE6 5JP

Thornbridge Brewery – For such a young brewery, first producing the Thornbridge Craft Beers in 2005, Thornbridge has gained remarkable 60 awards for its beers. Thornbridge Hall, Ashford in the Water, Derbys. Postcode DE45 1NZ

Hotels near Derby Beer Festival

If you are coming from outside Derby and want to stay overnight for the Derby Beer Festival then you will need to think about booking hotels near the Assembly Rooms, the location of the festival. Below is a selection of different hotels to suit different budgets close to the Derby Beer festival at Assembly Rooms:

The Holiday Inn Derby Riverlights Hotel – this hotel is relatively new and prices for a room will vary dependant on demand and dates of travel but on the whole are reasonable. It’s central location make it a perfect place to stay for the Beer festival. Address: Morledge, Derby Postcode: DE1 2AY.

Hampton by Hilton Derby City Centre – This hotel is also in Derby city centre and as such is an ideal location for The Beer Festival and just about anything within the heart of the city. Nearby restaurants include Santanda in Derby Market Place and Nando’s just around the corner. Address: Morledge, Derby, postcode DE1 2BB.

The Heritage Hotel Derby – A recently refurbished, 92 bedroomed hotel in Derby city centre, The Heritage offers a good clean and comfortable service at very reasonable rates. Its location means it is just a few minutes walk to the Derby Beer Festival. Address: Macklin Street, Derby, Postcode: DE1 1LF

Car Parking for Derby Beer Festival

If you are looking to drive to the Derby Beer Festival you will need to know about car parking close to the Assembly Room in Derby. Below are the main areas for car parking in Derby city centre:

Multi Storey: 214 Spaces
Assembly Rooms, DE1 3AF 

Parksafe Ltd: 331 Spaces
Bold Lane, DE1 3NT 

Multi Storey: 507 Spaces
Chapel Street, DE1 3GU

Council House: 66 Spaces
DE1 2FS 

Please remember that if you are planning to enjoy the many beers and real ales at Derby Beer festival then it is probably a good idea to arrange alternative methods of transport to the festival or ensure that you have a designated driver who does not drink.