The fifteenth annual CAMRA Bristol Beer Festival will run from 15th to 17th March 2012. It’s still at the popular venue of the Brunel Passenger Shed at Temple Meads, however this time the festival will be our biggest ever! The demand for tickets has grown steadily with it selling out quicker every year, so for 2012 we are adding an extra session on the Thursday evening (we will also be ordering more beer). The 2012 Bristol Beer Festival will feature over 130 different real ales plus a great range of cider and perry, and food will be available at all sessions.
Due to the extra session we will begin set up a day earlier than usual so we'll be setting up Tuesday to Thursday. This involves taking delivery of beer, setting up the stillage, getting the barrels onto the stillage, hanging up signs, putting programmes into glasses, setting up chairs and tables, and setting up the stalls for games and products. The vendors also set up their stalls during this time.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday is all about the festival itself. As we are opening for an extra session this year we will welcome 4500 people through the doors. It's all hands on deck! Working behind the beer and cider bars will keep you busy and challenged as punters ask for advice. But it's not just serving drinks. We need people to give out glasses, sell tokens, drum up trade on the games, and act as stewards. Stewards make sure that everyone is happy from punters to other volunteers on the stalls. They keep the place tidy and chat with folk so that everyone is safe.
Between sessions on Friday and Saturday is time to refresh the venue: tidying up, re-covering and rearranging tables, cleaning up any spillages, replenishing the glasses, and checking the stock looks good on the stalls.
Sunday is when it all comes down. Barrels need to be emptied, stillage dismantled, unused products packaged for return to HQ, signs are taken down and stored for next year or returned. We know it's hard to get going on the Sunday so we help things along with a bacon (or egg) butty.
Over 150 people volunteer each year. Many come back year after year as volunteering at the festival is great fun. You get to work with people who share your enthusiasm for ale and support CAMRA's aims. There are also plenty of opportunities to introduce drinkers to your favourite ale. On top of all that you can sup your favourite and new tipples (sensibly, of course!).
Don't worry if you need to catch the last bus or train, just let us know on the form and we'll make sure you get away on time.
You can register online using the survey below or email featherstone(dot)helen(at)googlemail(dot)com for a form.