AROUND 800 beer, cider, wine, music and fun lovers converged on Upton Noble on 16 and 17 September to enjoy the village’s second Beer & Cider Festival.

Revellers came from locally as well as miles around to the village that first put on a festival in 2015, as a community enterprise sparked by the earlier closure of its only pub, the Lamb Inn. One festival goer had even booked his accommodation immediately after last year’s festival, to ensure that he didn’t miss out this time. A party of 18 on a stag night, with the groom-to-be dressed up as Bananaman, also admitted to having a fabulous time. 

‘Festival went off brilliantly’

“We’re all delighted that the beer and cider festival once more went off so brilliantly,” said chairman Dan Hurring. “We had more than 500 people through the doors over the course of Saturday with lots of families turning out to enjoy the daytime activities. The music was excellent, there was a great range of food and the beer and cider selection was truly outstanding.”

Uptonogood a sellout success

The festival boasted 27 craft beers and 12 ciders, including Uptonogood Cider, which was made from the villagers’ apples last autumn. The first beer to sell out was Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker, which had been sponsored by Kav at The Three Horseshoes Inn in Batcombe, while following hot on its heels was Dorset Brewery’s Chesil.

Villager Donna Uhlein, who attended both dates with family and friends, commented: “This was a brilliant event for Upton Noble. We all had a wonderful time.” Jim Rosser from Witham Friary wrote on Facebook: “Fab event. Hope to come again next year.”

Dance time

DJs Iona, from Westcombe, Poshratz and Jerome Hill, ensured that plenty of people took to the dance floor, while all the bands proved popular, particularly the Skimmity Hitchers, whose rendition of Viva Lyme Regis, which they have based on their favourite seaside town, went down a storm. 

Significant sums of money were raised for three charities, Willberry Wonder Pony, the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and the Women & Children’s Centre at the Calais refugee ‘Jungle’. 

‘Bowled over’ by support

Sponsorship co-ordinator Andrew Fuller admitted to being “bowled over” by the support for the festival from local companies which brought in thousands of pounds. “So many firms and individuals were incredibly generous, not to mention our local publicans. A special thank you should also go to John Wainwright & Co, which sponsored our much-admired beer glasses.”

Dan Hurring concluded: “The festival feels like a really important fixture in the village calendar, helping to bring the Upton Noble community together with those from the surrounding parishes. The committee looks forward to meeting soon and deciding whether to do it all again next year.”