Channel crossing for festival organiser

April 15, 2007: Nigel Jones, landlord of the Railway Hotel, Blandford, Dorset, will shortly be repeating his journey to the Channel Islands to collect some real ales in advance of the pub's beer festival, from May 4-7.

The festival — which will feature cider for the first time — will be held in the skittle alley of the hotel and feature 41 different ales all brewed in Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Guernsey or Jersey.

There will be live entertainment from local musicians throughout the event, which will be opened with Vale FM’s Dave Webster broadcasting his afternoon show live from the sponsors’ session on the Friday.

Local companies are again invited to sponsor casks in exchange for publicity and participation in the sponsors' and guests' tasting session. The primary sponsors are Waverley TBS, of Wincanton, and Hall & Woodhouse, of Blandford. The following companies have so far agreed to sponsor a cask: CG House Accountant, Blandford Furniture Bazaar, Waverley TBS, Horrocks & Webb, Hall & Woodhouse, Vale FM, Tacon Taxis, On-Track Catering, Chaffers Estate Agents & Surveyors, and Astral Couriers.

4 To find out more about the festival, see our events listing.