CAMRA Bristol Beer Festival 2013

The sixteenth annual CAMRA Bristol Beer Festival will run from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th March 2013 and will once again be at Brunel’s Old Station, Temple Meads, Bristol. People can expect an excellent range of over 130 different real ales from near and far to be on sale over the course of the festival. There will also be an increased cider and perry order, as we actually managed to sell out of this shortly before the end of the 2012 event. A range of 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 5,000 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.

Fancy volunteering at the festival?

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.