Upton Noble Beer Festival

Somerset village fights back after pub closure

UPTON Noble, a community of just 60 houses situated between Bruton and Frome, joined thousands of other UK villages a couple of years ago when its pub, the Lamb Inn, closed its doors for the final time. At one point during 2014, UK pub closures ran at 31 a week. For many rural idylls such closures signal not only the end of an era, but time called on social events, with the heart literally ripped out of a village. 

However, Upton Noble has fought back. A monthly Friday pub night kicked off a raft of social events in the village hall which will culminate this weekend in a bumper Beer Festival (4-5 September) that has already raised thousands of pounds in sponsorship, with tickets, according to committee chairman Dan Hurring, a former organiser of the Sunrise Festival, “selling like hot cakes”. 

But this won’t be a modest event. The organising committee is planning a glittering festival. Dan Hurring says: “Our new event is going to be pretty special, not only in terms of its beer, cider and fine wines, but we are also proud of our music line up and the food we are offering. We have some wonderful sponsors and have been bowled over by the generosity of local companies. Our festival will be a great showcase for Upton Noble and we hope in the process that we will raise plenty of money for local good causes.”

West Country vocalist Joe James and his band The Enrichments will be providing the entertainment during Friday’s over 18s night. 

Joe and his bandmates, Elton Buckland-Emery, Joe Emsley and Jack Opie, have already played at Glastonbury Festival, Farm Fest, Hauser & Wirth Gallery, The Rock Lobster and Babington House, as well as countless weddings and parties. 

Saturday’s family day will see Kid Calico & The Astral Ponies headlining on the big stage, with live music also provided by Back Before Breakfast, Kingdom of Kush, Skelad (ceilidh), Animal Krackers and The Olde Boston Tea Party. Between the live entertainment, DJs Steve Bedlam, Bobby the Persuader and Iona will keep festival goers entertained. 

For beer, cider and wine lovers the committee has sourced 20-plus beers both locally and from further afield. One donation, from The Three Horseshoes Pub in Batcombe, is Cwtch Welsh Red Ale, which won the Tiny Rebel brewery team in Newport the Best Beer in Britain accolade at the recent Great British Beer Festival. Artisan ciders come from stunning Somerset, while lovers of fine wines will find selections of reds, including Pinot Noir and Rioja, and whites including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. 

Food will be provided throughout the day by Upton Nibbles, a band of renowned cooks from the village. Pies and cheese platters will be on offer on Friday night.

Children’s entertainment during Saturday will include a bouncy castle and cinema, plus a not to be missed Junior Bakeoff competition with prizes for all.

Saturday tickets can be booked on www.unfestival.co.uk. Friday entry is free. Come and support a village that has fought back after the closure of its once popular pub.