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27-04-2022, 12:02
Visit the Paul Bailey's Beer Blog site (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-chequers-laddingford-beer-festival.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7vY-j_N31AAJa3IfVHzdKRCr36wcvWWvCYa_KH8gkZdkRj0D36hzWe yH1LcCmTuzyMmdj1bq5CVvokwtt0s6qvFSEfmPJJZ8nKjRzi4r Vk29_ErRNM9GcYNf9EIWEcc01EKaWbOxpcL-62H1-lI-XP20RGmfNqQdFiJPJ7RiicV3Zme8pWD3H_MD/w400-h248/Chequers%20Lad%20Ext.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7vY-j_N31AAJa3IfVHzdKRCr36wcvWWvCYa_KH8gkZdkRj0D36hzWe yH1LcCmTuzyMmdj1bq5CVvokwtt0s6qvFSEfmPJJZ8nKjRzi4r Vk29_ErRNM9GcYNf9EIWEcc01EKaWbOxpcL-62H1-lI-XP20RGmfNqQdFiJPJ7RiicV3Zme8pWD3H_MD/s3333/Chequers%20Lad%20Ext.jpg)
Regular readers of this blog will know that I am no longer a fan of large-scale beer festivals, although by this, I mean events held in large venues, where lots of different beers may be sampled. In the main these festivals tended to be CAMRA organised and CAMRA run events, and whilst this isn’t always exclusively the case, it’s a good enough description to convey what I am referring to.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8nztCRYS24hx1zQ0qv3l6h43zRHOPmwgfnO_buoanR 3Vc-YUVA8WNbhUKKCvS4BKxXuM-_u06_vTpohNCavP4xL1k_csNevoF6_0obGHiZDLTNZVohNfeUm sCtGxf-UxXu1je9bEbKBR4esNeQ0c6w_hBINmjyj_SBYR-dfXEPm1sFC7m4Q3Eo2u/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_131856.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8nztCRYS24hx1zQ0qv3l6h43zRHOPmwgfnO_buoanR 3Vc-YUVA8WNbhUKKCvS4BKxXuM-_u06_vTpohNCavP4xL1k_csNevoF6_0obGHiZDLTNZVohNfeUm sCtGxf-UxXu1je9bEbKBR4esNeQ0c6w_hBINmjyj_SBYR-dfXEPm1sFC7m4Q3Eo2u/s4000/IMG_20220424_131856.jpg)
My reasons for avoiding these events are many and varied, and also well-documented, so I won’t go into them here, but there are certain beer festivals, such as those organised by a local pub, that I am more than happy to attend. Pub beer festivals tend to be relatively small scale and combine the atmosphere of a traditional pub with the chance to sample a range of beers that the pub wouldn’t normally stock. They invariably attract a wide and varied crowd, which adds to their appeal, and often feature live music as well.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY7pYCfm2olSGL52aWK5-5vWbn4ANq5dsglhomojvgCf_FRbxis1q-Yil43dwG4ZTEDhLgb7GFOs3UpeVHEhLVDKVKr6_OMiIntb_Sa-fRiVZ--tTNSD8aWQ6RO3I7wDyEUzindHX7qlTQkbijK-1f4KAWNyDrkk8m5A0lWAZ34zaP3ZDBNnTBTKc/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_132157.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY7pYCfm2olSGL52aWK5-5vWbn4ANq5dsglhomojvgCf_FRbxis1q-Yil43dwG4ZTEDhLgb7GFOs3UpeVHEhLVDKVKr6_OMiIntb_Sa-fRiVZ--tTNSD8aWQ6RO3I7wDyEUzindHX7qlTQkbijK-1f4KAWNyDrkk8m5A0lWAZ34zaP3ZDBNnTBTKc/s4000/IMG_20220424_132157.jpg)
Such festivals sometimes take place within the confines of the pub, but more often than not, they are held in land adjoining it, such as the garden or sometimes a neighbouring field. This is because they are normally summer events, and to my mind, there is nothing finer than enjoying a few pints in the great outdoors. The beers and the serving area will normally be located in a marquee, or possibly an outbuilding, for both security reasons, and for protection against the vagaries of a typical English summer.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BIYlr2qWb2D6Q5LPnA-XH5gDt0FntRDSgcPDQd0jkvHe3c_gPQTrh6UZANnnA5JZ6BNyS EBbF2TtR9f_vyNf9vPVOyFJJTVuLIXPBf3Cty9OVYSm3UPlFcb F7bymqgi5QQddIkNIS7ZVicvLesmVCFyB0YlxJhNJBcjFQGy8d tnByZEfRgbV1FKd/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_124420.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BIYlr2qWb2D6Q5LPnA-XH5gDt0FntRDSgcPDQd0jkvHe3c_gPQTrh6UZANnnA5JZ6BNyS EBbF2TtR9f_vyNf9vPVOyFJJTVuLIXPBf3Cty9OVYSm3UPlFcb F7bymqgi5QQddIkNIS7ZVicvLesmVCFyB0YlxJhNJBcjFQGy8d tnByZEfRgbV1FKd/s4000/IMG_20220424_124420.jpg)
It is to just such an event that I went this Sunday, the day that happened to be the final one of my recent 11-day mini break. Although I’d enjoyed a couple of hikes over the course of the break, we hadn’t been out as much as a couple as I originally intended. Apparently, I’d picked the “wrong week,” as Mrs PBT’s was snowed under with tax and VAT returns, all courtesy of a motley collection of builders and tradesmen who seem to work for last minute dot com.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4q1mDstlt_JkW7G61xZMS_yr0c_yq_RnluylcXemSz RxigXHdrmDI3c_J2tRBqsuiHGJoDlYBze9YMUuk8SxpIvtQvid PbQ34ADDCLxYlr_gK7DbgfuMJKWyqG8yMwDJ9so0tCQDoC4Ip8 EuGKUdSx5kaoP6ShvdDYB8qOued2mOpRpYIx3lo0hT/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_144229.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4q1mDstlt_JkW7G61xZMS_yr0c_yq_RnluylcXemSz RxigXHdrmDI3c_J2tRBqsuiHGJoDlYBze9YMUuk8SxpIvtQvid PbQ34ADDCLxYlr_gK7DbgfuMJKWyqG8yMwDJ9so0tCQDoC4Ip8 EuGKUdSx5kaoP6ShvdDYB8qOued2mOpRpYIx3lo0hT/s4000/IMG_20220424_144229.jpg)
As my tax affairs are controlled by the company’s pay roll department, I don’t need to concern myself with such matters, as like it or not, the tax is deducted at source. Like most people on PAYE, I have little or no say in the amount of tax I pay, the upside being I don’t have to file a tedious tax return each year. This is not the case in the world of the self-employed, where tax owed, is paid on account, six months in advance and six in arrears. To make things worse, HMRC can levy fines for late returns and/or payments, but this doesn’t seem to bother you average jobbing builder.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCKhAA-8JO0uCaSnFZiWx-gcdeDPq80gfesG0zqHJu6zZtvktowyxLtIoEX3bJZeEu_mclVj k0IALC5NMww1dz4CJrUrmjv3GjHwlmpg2JWqOrHVuafUv0XDMO vG3rVn3_wQAk-6y8tvvD5HwdgEEzIF--6pglLJCJ8hyGZFDM43hTQAJikeypJUf/w400-h225/NDW%20View%20-Dorking.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCKhAA-8JO0uCaSnFZiWx-gcdeDPq80gfesG0zqHJu6zZtvktowyxLtIoEX3bJZeEu_mclVj k0IALC5NMww1dz4CJrUrmjv3GjHwlmpg2JWqOrHVuafUv0XDMO vG3rVn3_wQAk-6y8tvvD5HwdgEEzIF--6pglLJCJ8hyGZFDM43hTQAJikeypJUf/s3264/NDW%20View%20-Dorking.jpg)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvVwOCHKjxtQ6ILmUIyfKtqoSHYUVJxE7aUkQ0q2e-T0dCsEw2TsAuKuvEH46lkEBrCNGchZ0pVsMFY3A4pkgjiABy3E BiJ0FXIWvNaMFO-VSPq5njtUTGY3Ai0L3vSw1VPwqT5AwAuSpSjjY2yq7BO2HV2O9 q7potU4NL9sWe3j7_l3eaNrJBPcQ/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_130431.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvVwOCHKjxtQ6ILmUIyfKtqoSHYUVJxE7aUkQ0q2e-T0dCsEw2TsAuKuvEH46lkEBrCNGchZ0pVsMFY3A4pkgjiABy3E BiJ0FXIWvNaMFO-VSPq5njtUTGY3Ai0L3vSw1VPwqT5AwAuSpSjjY2yq7BO2HV2O9 q7potU4NL9sWe3j7_l3eaNrJBPcQ/s4000/IMG_20220424_130431.jpg)I mentioned before, carrier bags stuffed full of crumpled invoices and receipts, all liberally sprinkled with cement dust, being left in the front porch, just days away from the final deadline. Mrs PBT then has to pull out all the stops, to disentangle the mess and get the county’s finest tradesmen off the hook, sometimes with just hours to spare. She does charge appropriately for this rushed, and at times quite fraught work, but as she points out, it feels like she is working solely for HMRC rather than the contractors concerned. The long and the short of it, there was very little free time for us to go out somewhere as a couple. I had made tentative plans for a day trip to Salisbury, as a sort of post birthday treat to myself, but this was scuppered when realised the gas engineer was calling on the Friday, to service the boiler. All boring domestic stuff, but essential too, especially as our boiler is approaching the end of its serviceable life.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhird3YDiGAdM7NlwzdA0E9NqMshWUxFiqnK9LGsA2smm Hh3x_Y1S-azAUrr-5dFvko11YKUAn3BVK6nI9oKtyFoW9VUHYhOejLLzVhTlzGD52M ZZRJUnwzGbzUdv2FSz7BTgh9r411UWrQsw9otzx8h3pUgXlVzi KD7OPYUtN9t8boTRH3c1qtvx8V/w400-h225/IMG_20211108_115532.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhird3YDiGAdM7NlwzdA0E9NqMshWUxFiqnK9LGsA2smm Hh3x_Y1S-azAUrr-5dFvko11YKUAn3BVK6nI9oKtyFoW9VUHYhOejLLzVhTlzGD52M ZZRJUnwzGbzUdv2FSz7BTgh9r411UWrQsw9otzx8h3pUgXlVzi KD7OPYUtN9t8boTRH3c1qtvx8V/s4000/IMG_20211108_115532.jpg)
So, with time fast running out, I was determined to at least go somewhere before the 11 days were up and a fast-looming return to work. One idea was to knock off a further section of the North Downs Way, but that would have meant an early start on Sunday morning. Also, my knee was playing up again, the result of spending too much time out in the garden last week, and this is where the idea of attending a local beer festival came in.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhxAZd_83D0SAgU8ov5hr9_GqnLodQiRaDSNyRBNx1n UkvpVsVgS_1rw_AAL42_vrR2rwBNJSNHhVr0PNlT7RwAIVG9Qp WeHqup3-Q8yh1J5Me04bIINrrB5c-IsM6AlRHf0ZkoTHNCOEN5IToRPbfVbgMlRKSfVmJlHO_ZeDQWR CRegJzgEUVdRL/w400-h225/IMG_20211208_203525.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhxAZd_83D0SAgU8ov5hr9_GqnLodQiRaDSNyRBNx1n UkvpVsVgS_1rw_AAL42_vrR2rwBNJSNHhVr0PNlT7RwAIVG9Qp WeHqup3-Q8yh1J5Me04bIINrrB5c-IsM6AlRHf0ZkoTHNCOEN5IToRPbfVbgMlRKSfVmJlHO_ZeDQWR CRegJzgEUVdRL/s4000/IMG_20211208_203525.jpg)
I had it in the back of my mind that the Chequers at Laddingford (https://www.chequersladdingford.co.uk/) were running their regular beer festival in honour of St George’s Day. This annual event takes place in the pub itself and also in the extensive garden behind. Despite the festival having run for “years,” I had never been before, so Sunday was the perfect opportunity to make amends. The Chequers is an attractive oak-beamed building dating from the 15th Century, and it is no exaggeration to describe it as the heart of village life. The pub hosts a variety of events, including the aforementioned beer festival. Matthew and I made an evening visit there, at the beginning of December and enjoyed a nice, home-cooked meal, but Sunday was the first time I have been there in daylight. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAUd7appJ77rqXDR0OI0wyCJEx9l5a_tVv1o_2gfCgq V7PQtgwh9wluMKorM_EzwLBwtwADhKeZrFqMyHqaxJzdlJ-iIxYILK_e92Q_r6o0rMoqxwyRTredZA6hSYAeDXaEvSk9BVQyd xcGfb-NtORsliDUpjMR2Jmpb3637a9qUwxeJ7R_bVJ0Wz/w400-h225/IMG_20211208_194310.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAUd7appJ77rqXDR0OI0wyCJEx9l5a_tVv1o_2gfCgq V7PQtgwh9wluMKorM_EzwLBwtwADhKeZrFqMyHqaxJzdlJ-iIxYILK_e92Q_r6o0rMoqxwyRTredZA6hSYAeDXaEvSk9BVQyd xcGfb-NtORsliDUpjMR2Jmpb3637a9qUwxeJ7R_bVJ0Wz/s4000/IMG_20211208_194310.jpg)The entry in What Pub, states that Beltring railway station is just 20 minutes’ walk away from the pub, so deciding to put this to the test, I boarded the 12.33 train from Tonbridge. Beltring is the first stop after Paddock Wood, on the Medway Valley Line, and is little more than a halt. It was constructed primarily for the army of hop pickers who arrived yearly, each autumn, to work at the nearby Whitbread Hop Farm, but today sees very few passengers. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp96Iyk0o4dXKMekvuP5mBx2W_zPX2LcUzWhQx5zJhMU S2k-HdrrBGN1I-qEcujRM33L3HEZll2mO7RMDlaGd5Mm32TptOuNLiITqmAc7LsS gWaNvtG8SwweUE7fRRIsMnpSQxuLGWmJYqePMhjTi8GH_cKrGF vRrGn10j8dGl6299IA3b1i4FmDOy/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_145452.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp96Iyk0o4dXKMekvuP5mBx2W_zPX2LcUzWhQx5zJhMU S2k-HdrrBGN1I-qEcujRM33L3HEZll2mO7RMDlaGd5Mm32TptOuNLiITqmAc7LsS gWaNvtG8SwweUE7fRRIsMnpSQxuLGWmJYqePMhjTi8GH_cKrGF vRrGn10j8dGl6299IA3b1i4FmDOy/s4000/IMG_20220424_145452.jpg)There are two very basic and rather bare looking concrete platforms – and up and a down one on either side of the tracks. The only concession to modernity are the steel and glass shelters – one on each platform. There is no car park, and barely any room for a vehicle to pull in and drop someone off. To my surprise one other passenger alighted from the train, apart from me, although having stopped to take a few photos, I didn’t see which way he went. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZyYyV82-7Rd6gN8OZyif3N-g5aHrXKlaz1Bj3qVovglCZ_lh8Dv-iBn5LJqfSnWEaWhkyrJhkfcAgXPWb3bfyuhz2bqsREslOwm3Wn tNaySAoFNCHggvwcJwL_mhLX4tu8LKm63d5QkGpM8FLfC0Kryw QMxhhyIE8wLIf3YaVSAPVeCHGYpZ0qLx/w400-h223/Oast%20beer%20barn.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZyYyV82-7Rd6gN8OZyif3N-g5aHrXKlaz1Bj3qVovglCZ_lh8Dv-iBn5LJqfSnWEaWhkyrJhkfcAgXPWb3bfyuhz2bqsREslOwm3Wn tNaySAoFNCHggvwcJwL_mhLX4tu8LKm63d5QkGpM8FLfC0Kryw QMxhhyIE8wLIf3YaVSAPVeCHGYpZ0qLx/s3761/Oast%20beer%20barn.jpg)After crossing the tracks, I headed off along the road, in the direction of Yalding, with the intention of taking a cross-country footpath to Laddingford. The road was much busier than I anticipated, but fortunately, in most parts, there was a verge where I could take refuge from on-coming traffic. It was nowhere near as bad as the recent “Hampshire experience”described by GBG ticker Simon, aka BRAPA, but I still needed to keep my wits about me. I was rather relieved therefore to reach the shady, tree-lined footpath and branch off towards Laddingford. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37Ni8iomxSdyef9i3rutvwk68GY2n02H7Q0aKsyJ65M CvZfZ-m3S9ofJSsfsjLid1qGdGuXwWDqSbYmrrucrkIX5bS9fYLu-Cqy7XHi6DnAxcfT4EonqC_p6VLIfR8NbbeNe3OXf8g2p3cur-uhdT6zbbO0fw4XNVgUplJBL8ELC1PPAlv34gv3WU/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_132525.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37Ni8iomxSdyef9i3rutvwk68GY2n02H7Q0aKsyJ65M CvZfZ-m3S9ofJSsfsjLid1qGdGuXwWDqSbYmrrucrkIX5bS9fYLu-Cqy7XHi6DnAxcfT4EonqC_p6VLIfR8NbbeNe3OXf8g2p3cur-uhdT6zbbO0fw4XNVgUplJBL8ELC1PPAlv34gv3WU/s4000/IMG_20220424_132525.jpg)Towards the end of the path, there was a narrow concrete footbridge, over a stream, and it wasn’t long afterwards that I could hear the sounds of people enjoying themselves. The path enters Laddingford at the side of the pub and so, true to the What Pub description, I’d arrived in the village 20 minutes after leaving Beltring station. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtq-_V1l7yqRC22lkAuv_MMY19j0DEpUZ2MDUyZLcQ9Gcm9X2psYz5 MolUUPCa2sjrk9rxM2HafvNVFRL3YyMjcV_pfNC6yRVprnHCBr ioh-82u9faODCd6h7NqsrIvjc8ze7K_-DjUk7nz6IklqFpyJTBIORAMwrZsjpEMqBjB2jXLKucjGjC-S3/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_131918.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtq-_V1l7yqRC22lkAuv_MMY19j0DEpUZ2MDUyZLcQ9Gcm9X2psYz5 MolUUPCa2sjrk9rxM2HafvNVFRL3YyMjcV_pfNC6yRVprnHCBr ioh-82u9faODCd6h7NqsrIvjc8ze7K_-DjUk7nz6IklqFpyJTBIORAMwrZsjpEMqBjB2jXLKucjGjC-S3/s4000/IMG_20220424_131918.jpg)The festival was in full swing, with an ample crowd of people sat at the front of the pub, and dozens more at the rear, occupying the extensive garden. Two women, sat at a nearby table, asked if they could help me. I’d already twigged that the event operated on a token basis – easier for the organisers, as the cash is concentrated in one place, but something of a pain for punters, as you have to guess in advance, how many pints, or halves, you are going to consume.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAJDYJPbZuBtglp14we5h7Qs0_GJbTErlcpUVW5txaV _69vSsRQIZwd5KZ0hcU-wH0eI5LZdpfsP13_Rae7Tr6lcGdlCRLGwBznnlrRi_WgRJg82Z EFRouzcajgMT0Wj8MvN5VKhcfPMlE0z0uM6F6i6-iDWwMOGpHqkm5FM-NP5dv6C8gWFMakLD/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_141706.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAJDYJPbZuBtglp14we5h7Qs0_GJbTErlcpUVW5txaV _69vSsRQIZwd5KZ0hcU-wH0eI5LZdpfsP13_Rae7Tr6lcGdlCRLGwBznnlrRi_WgRJg82Z EFRouzcajgMT0Wj8MvN5VKhcfPMlE0z0uM6F6i6-iDWwMOGpHqkm5FM-NP5dv6C8gWFMakLD/s4000/IMG_20220424_141706.jpg)
I opted for £8 worth to start with, plus a £1 charity donation. All beers were priced at £2 per half, regardless of strength and, as is normally the case at such events, a printed sheet giving details of beer, brewery, style, along with tasting notes, was available to all that wanted one. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTaX76P53AK_YxQxJDoo9ZpofPXhV4AKvD9zOPufadC JrExRyMoMxrLqvgvOJ9erktDTmSFPAI2CZDTlgySR-oKKxo4w9lccDXxuNzrpX4AuHAW9Bp_Nt9TaIpb2NaXLyJbF3yH KsObzio1_UyvNmpB56antRCy7G2IGw2f9ZrPXy4J4xaU9_jL7q/w225-h400/IMG_20220424_131813.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTaX76P53AK_YxQxJDoo9ZpofPXhV4AKvD9zOPufadC JrExRyMoMxrLqvgvOJ9erktDTmSFPAI2CZDTlgySR-oKKxo4w9lccDXxuNzrpX4AuHAW9Bp_Nt9TaIpb2NaXLyJbF3yH KsObzio1_UyvNmpB56antRCy7G2IGw2f9ZrPXy4J4xaU9_jL7q/s4000/IMG_20220424_131813.jpg)I had intended to stick with pints, but with a good selection of interesting beers available, all good intentions were quickly, abandoned, and I reverted to my normal beer festival habit, of drinking halves. My excuse was, I could try double the number of beers, but can beer really be tasted by drinking half pints?
Charles Dickens famously said that beer cannot be tasted in a sip, and he was right, of course. The Great American Beer Festival with its (in)famous, 1 oz pours, begs to differ, but a twentieth of a pint amounts to not much more than a sip, whereas a half pint equates to ten such thimbles! The majority of the beers were stored in an old oast house, at the side of the pub, which looked as if it may have been a stable block, back in the day. There were 11 in total, dispensed straight from the cask, in true beer festival fashion. For those who prefer vertical drinking and standing at the bar, three more cask ales were available inside the pub. There were also a couple of semi-permanent, marquee type buildings at the rear of the pub, with a band playing country & western numbers in one of them. I found myself a seat, plus a table at a sheltered spot, outside one of these tents, and made myself comfortable in a position where I could watch the goings on, whilst enjoying a few of the beers. I tried four in total, two of which would have been preferable in pints, but all decent brews in their own way. I also grabbed myself a cheeseburger, because it would have been rude not to have done so!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-0S7L2GyMkKKoCOSdv4Uu5FAAI8CnowqgfGqF0h9UikXAhvDaHt OOUAJt_GbBoxabkFQ_J8k_mcjYynh0Qu1cxC50d2v5hsy3yv4r 8rjLUHqcRigLN0fwWgfM2baa0FBdaYbywf3ZLWvJu1wX-X5nWLQAR4WyMi-SOt3pMkIBjngN-H4xPzGtS2a/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_135107.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-0S7L2GyMkKKoCOSdv4Uu5FAAI8CnowqgfGqF0h9UikXAhvDaHt OOUAJt_GbBoxabkFQ_J8k_mcjYynh0Qu1cxC50d2v5hsy3yv4r 8rjLUHqcRigLN0fwWgfM2baa0FBdaYbywf3ZLWvJu1wX-X5nWLQAR4WyMi-SOt3pMkIBjngN-H4xPzGtS2a/s4000/IMG_20220424_135107.jpg)
I stayed for around an hour and a half, chilling out whilst soaking up the atmosphere of this community-oriented beer festival. I allowed 30 minutes for the walk back to the station, arriving in plenty of time for the train, and was the only passenger to board at Beltring.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkJNqz78-pVD6T8Pv-IZfekJz8uATqceC7pxwnzI67XdxR7RhkTbPj8RVa68ChygQg09 QQh_tv023rA2iiu9mJikL6V09TPSuGUNxe-jNOKe5iz6h13aCghkJlqWIPxUoeQp73wof6fB0ZD88zgyLt__c 2yfpM_WZE5_EDEqQImPtacGuPkX37-mc/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_132211.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkJNqz78-pVD6T8Pv-IZfekJz8uATqceC7pxwnzI67XdxR7RhkTbPj8RVa68ChygQg09 QQh_tv023rA2iiu9mJikL6V09TPSuGUNxe-jNOKe5iz6h13aCghkJlqWIPxUoeQp73wof6fB0ZD88zgyLt__c 2yfpM_WZE5_EDEqQImPtacGuPkX37-mc/s4000/IMG_20220424_132211.jpg)
As for the festival itself, it was a nice, friendly, well-organised, laid-back, and chilled out event. The brief snapshot I experienced of it, was sufficient to convince me to return next year. I had floated the idea of attending amongst the Beer Socials WhatsApp group I am a member of, but no one else was free that day. The photos I posted on the group attracted some positive feedback, so I think there might be a few of us heading over to Laddingfordnext St George’s Day.
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More... (https://baileysbeerblog.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-chequers-laddingford-beer-festival.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7vY-j_N31AAJa3IfVHzdKRCr36wcvWWvCYa_KH8gkZdkRj0D36hzWe yH1LcCmTuzyMmdj1bq5CVvokwtt0s6qvFSEfmPJJZ8nKjRzi4r Vk29_ErRNM9GcYNf9EIWEcc01EKaWbOxpcL-62H1-lI-XP20RGmfNqQdFiJPJ7RiicV3Zme8pWD3H_MD/w400-h248/Chequers%20Lad%20Ext.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7vY-j_N31AAJa3IfVHzdKRCr36wcvWWvCYa_KH8gkZdkRj0D36hzWe yH1LcCmTuzyMmdj1bq5CVvokwtt0s6qvFSEfmPJJZ8nKjRzi4r Vk29_ErRNM9GcYNf9EIWEcc01EKaWbOxpcL-62H1-lI-XP20RGmfNqQdFiJPJ7RiicV3Zme8pWD3H_MD/s3333/Chequers%20Lad%20Ext.jpg)
Regular readers of this blog will know that I am no longer a fan of large-scale beer festivals, although by this, I mean events held in large venues, where lots of different beers may be sampled. In the main these festivals tended to be CAMRA organised and CAMRA run events, and whilst this isn’t always exclusively the case, it’s a good enough description to convey what I am referring to.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8nztCRYS24hx1zQ0qv3l6h43zRHOPmwgfnO_buoanR 3Vc-YUVA8WNbhUKKCvS4BKxXuM-_u06_vTpohNCavP4xL1k_csNevoF6_0obGHiZDLTNZVohNfeUm sCtGxf-UxXu1je9bEbKBR4esNeQ0c6w_hBINmjyj_SBYR-dfXEPm1sFC7m4Q3Eo2u/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_131856.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8nztCRYS24hx1zQ0qv3l6h43zRHOPmwgfnO_buoanR 3Vc-YUVA8WNbhUKKCvS4BKxXuM-_u06_vTpohNCavP4xL1k_csNevoF6_0obGHiZDLTNZVohNfeUm sCtGxf-UxXu1je9bEbKBR4esNeQ0c6w_hBINmjyj_SBYR-dfXEPm1sFC7m4Q3Eo2u/s4000/IMG_20220424_131856.jpg)
My reasons for avoiding these events are many and varied, and also well-documented, so I won’t go into them here, but there are certain beer festivals, such as those organised by a local pub, that I am more than happy to attend. Pub beer festivals tend to be relatively small scale and combine the atmosphere of a traditional pub with the chance to sample a range of beers that the pub wouldn’t normally stock. They invariably attract a wide and varied crowd, which adds to their appeal, and often feature live music as well.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY7pYCfm2olSGL52aWK5-5vWbn4ANq5dsglhomojvgCf_FRbxis1q-Yil43dwG4ZTEDhLgb7GFOs3UpeVHEhLVDKVKr6_OMiIntb_Sa-fRiVZ--tTNSD8aWQ6RO3I7wDyEUzindHX7qlTQkbijK-1f4KAWNyDrkk8m5A0lWAZ34zaP3ZDBNnTBTKc/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_132157.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY7pYCfm2olSGL52aWK5-5vWbn4ANq5dsglhomojvgCf_FRbxis1q-Yil43dwG4ZTEDhLgb7GFOs3UpeVHEhLVDKVKr6_OMiIntb_Sa-fRiVZ--tTNSD8aWQ6RO3I7wDyEUzindHX7qlTQkbijK-1f4KAWNyDrkk8m5A0lWAZ34zaP3ZDBNnTBTKc/s4000/IMG_20220424_132157.jpg)
Such festivals sometimes take place within the confines of the pub, but more often than not, they are held in land adjoining it, such as the garden or sometimes a neighbouring field. This is because they are normally summer events, and to my mind, there is nothing finer than enjoying a few pints in the great outdoors. The beers and the serving area will normally be located in a marquee, or possibly an outbuilding, for both security reasons, and for protection against the vagaries of a typical English summer.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BIYlr2qWb2D6Q5LPnA-XH5gDt0FntRDSgcPDQd0jkvHe3c_gPQTrh6UZANnnA5JZ6BNyS EBbF2TtR9f_vyNf9vPVOyFJJTVuLIXPBf3Cty9OVYSm3UPlFcb F7bymqgi5QQddIkNIS7ZVicvLesmVCFyB0YlxJhNJBcjFQGy8d tnByZEfRgbV1FKd/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_124420.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BIYlr2qWb2D6Q5LPnA-XH5gDt0FntRDSgcPDQd0jkvHe3c_gPQTrh6UZANnnA5JZ6BNyS EBbF2TtR9f_vyNf9vPVOyFJJTVuLIXPBf3Cty9OVYSm3UPlFcb F7bymqgi5QQddIkNIS7ZVicvLesmVCFyB0YlxJhNJBcjFQGy8d tnByZEfRgbV1FKd/s4000/IMG_20220424_124420.jpg)
It is to just such an event that I went this Sunday, the day that happened to be the final one of my recent 11-day mini break. Although I’d enjoyed a couple of hikes over the course of the break, we hadn’t been out as much as a couple as I originally intended. Apparently, I’d picked the “wrong week,” as Mrs PBT’s was snowed under with tax and VAT returns, all courtesy of a motley collection of builders and tradesmen who seem to work for last minute dot com.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4q1mDstlt_JkW7G61xZMS_yr0c_yq_RnluylcXemSz RxigXHdrmDI3c_J2tRBqsuiHGJoDlYBze9YMUuk8SxpIvtQvid PbQ34ADDCLxYlr_gK7DbgfuMJKWyqG8yMwDJ9so0tCQDoC4Ip8 EuGKUdSx5kaoP6ShvdDYB8qOued2mOpRpYIx3lo0hT/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_144229.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4q1mDstlt_JkW7G61xZMS_yr0c_yq_RnluylcXemSz RxigXHdrmDI3c_J2tRBqsuiHGJoDlYBze9YMUuk8SxpIvtQvid PbQ34ADDCLxYlr_gK7DbgfuMJKWyqG8yMwDJ9so0tCQDoC4Ip8 EuGKUdSx5kaoP6ShvdDYB8qOued2mOpRpYIx3lo0hT/s4000/IMG_20220424_144229.jpg)
As my tax affairs are controlled by the company’s pay roll department, I don’t need to concern myself with such matters, as like it or not, the tax is deducted at source. Like most people on PAYE, I have little or no say in the amount of tax I pay, the upside being I don’t have to file a tedious tax return each year. This is not the case in the world of the self-employed, where tax owed, is paid on account, six months in advance and six in arrears. To make things worse, HMRC can levy fines for late returns and/or payments, but this doesn’t seem to bother you average jobbing builder.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCKhAA-8JO0uCaSnFZiWx-gcdeDPq80gfesG0zqHJu6zZtvktowyxLtIoEX3bJZeEu_mclVj k0IALC5NMww1dz4CJrUrmjv3GjHwlmpg2JWqOrHVuafUv0XDMO vG3rVn3_wQAk-6y8tvvD5HwdgEEzIF--6pglLJCJ8hyGZFDM43hTQAJikeypJUf/w400-h225/NDW%20View%20-Dorking.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCKhAA-8JO0uCaSnFZiWx-gcdeDPq80gfesG0zqHJu6zZtvktowyxLtIoEX3bJZeEu_mclVj k0IALC5NMww1dz4CJrUrmjv3GjHwlmpg2JWqOrHVuafUv0XDMO vG3rVn3_wQAk-6y8tvvD5HwdgEEzIF--6pglLJCJ8hyGZFDM43hTQAJikeypJUf/s3264/NDW%20View%20-Dorking.jpg)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvVwOCHKjxtQ6ILmUIyfKtqoSHYUVJxE7aUkQ0q2e-T0dCsEw2TsAuKuvEH46lkEBrCNGchZ0pVsMFY3A4pkgjiABy3E BiJ0FXIWvNaMFO-VSPq5njtUTGY3Ai0L3vSw1VPwqT5AwAuSpSjjY2yq7BO2HV2O9 q7potU4NL9sWe3j7_l3eaNrJBPcQ/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_130431.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvVwOCHKjxtQ6ILmUIyfKtqoSHYUVJxE7aUkQ0q2e-T0dCsEw2TsAuKuvEH46lkEBrCNGchZ0pVsMFY3A4pkgjiABy3E BiJ0FXIWvNaMFO-VSPq5njtUTGY3Ai0L3vSw1VPwqT5AwAuSpSjjY2yq7BO2HV2O9 q7potU4NL9sWe3j7_l3eaNrJBPcQ/s4000/IMG_20220424_130431.jpg)I mentioned before, carrier bags stuffed full of crumpled invoices and receipts, all liberally sprinkled with cement dust, being left in the front porch, just days away from the final deadline. Mrs PBT then has to pull out all the stops, to disentangle the mess and get the county’s finest tradesmen off the hook, sometimes with just hours to spare. She does charge appropriately for this rushed, and at times quite fraught work, but as she points out, it feels like she is working solely for HMRC rather than the contractors concerned. The long and the short of it, there was very little free time for us to go out somewhere as a couple. I had made tentative plans for a day trip to Salisbury, as a sort of post birthday treat to myself, but this was scuppered when realised the gas engineer was calling on the Friday, to service the boiler. All boring domestic stuff, but essential too, especially as our boiler is approaching the end of its serviceable life.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhird3YDiGAdM7NlwzdA0E9NqMshWUxFiqnK9LGsA2smm Hh3x_Y1S-azAUrr-5dFvko11YKUAn3BVK6nI9oKtyFoW9VUHYhOejLLzVhTlzGD52M ZZRJUnwzGbzUdv2FSz7BTgh9r411UWrQsw9otzx8h3pUgXlVzi KD7OPYUtN9t8boTRH3c1qtvx8V/w400-h225/IMG_20211108_115532.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhird3YDiGAdM7NlwzdA0E9NqMshWUxFiqnK9LGsA2smm Hh3x_Y1S-azAUrr-5dFvko11YKUAn3BVK6nI9oKtyFoW9VUHYhOejLLzVhTlzGD52M ZZRJUnwzGbzUdv2FSz7BTgh9r411UWrQsw9otzx8h3pUgXlVzi KD7OPYUtN9t8boTRH3c1qtvx8V/s4000/IMG_20211108_115532.jpg)
So, with time fast running out, I was determined to at least go somewhere before the 11 days were up and a fast-looming return to work. One idea was to knock off a further section of the North Downs Way, but that would have meant an early start on Sunday morning. Also, my knee was playing up again, the result of spending too much time out in the garden last week, and this is where the idea of attending a local beer festival came in.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhxAZd_83D0SAgU8ov5hr9_GqnLodQiRaDSNyRBNx1n UkvpVsVgS_1rw_AAL42_vrR2rwBNJSNHhVr0PNlT7RwAIVG9Qp WeHqup3-Q8yh1J5Me04bIINrrB5c-IsM6AlRHf0ZkoTHNCOEN5IToRPbfVbgMlRKSfVmJlHO_ZeDQWR CRegJzgEUVdRL/w400-h225/IMG_20211208_203525.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbhxAZd_83D0SAgU8ov5hr9_GqnLodQiRaDSNyRBNx1n UkvpVsVgS_1rw_AAL42_vrR2rwBNJSNHhVr0PNlT7RwAIVG9Qp WeHqup3-Q8yh1J5Me04bIINrrB5c-IsM6AlRHf0ZkoTHNCOEN5IToRPbfVbgMlRKSfVmJlHO_ZeDQWR CRegJzgEUVdRL/s4000/IMG_20211208_203525.jpg)
I had it in the back of my mind that the Chequers at Laddingford (https://www.chequersladdingford.co.uk/) were running their regular beer festival in honour of St George’s Day. This annual event takes place in the pub itself and also in the extensive garden behind. Despite the festival having run for “years,” I had never been before, so Sunday was the perfect opportunity to make amends. The Chequers is an attractive oak-beamed building dating from the 15th Century, and it is no exaggeration to describe it as the heart of village life. The pub hosts a variety of events, including the aforementioned beer festival. Matthew and I made an evening visit there, at the beginning of December and enjoyed a nice, home-cooked meal, but Sunday was the first time I have been there in daylight. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAUd7appJ77rqXDR0OI0wyCJEx9l5a_tVv1o_2gfCgq V7PQtgwh9wluMKorM_EzwLBwtwADhKeZrFqMyHqaxJzdlJ-iIxYILK_e92Q_r6o0rMoqxwyRTredZA6hSYAeDXaEvSk9BVQyd xcGfb-NtORsliDUpjMR2Jmpb3637a9qUwxeJ7R_bVJ0Wz/w400-h225/IMG_20211208_194310.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAUd7appJ77rqXDR0OI0wyCJEx9l5a_tVv1o_2gfCgq V7PQtgwh9wluMKorM_EzwLBwtwADhKeZrFqMyHqaxJzdlJ-iIxYILK_e92Q_r6o0rMoqxwyRTredZA6hSYAeDXaEvSk9BVQyd xcGfb-NtORsliDUpjMR2Jmpb3637a9qUwxeJ7R_bVJ0Wz/s4000/IMG_20211208_194310.jpg)The entry in What Pub, states that Beltring railway station is just 20 minutes’ walk away from the pub, so deciding to put this to the test, I boarded the 12.33 train from Tonbridge. Beltring is the first stop after Paddock Wood, on the Medway Valley Line, and is little more than a halt. It was constructed primarily for the army of hop pickers who arrived yearly, each autumn, to work at the nearby Whitbread Hop Farm, but today sees very few passengers. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp96Iyk0o4dXKMekvuP5mBx2W_zPX2LcUzWhQx5zJhMU S2k-HdrrBGN1I-qEcujRM33L3HEZll2mO7RMDlaGd5Mm32TptOuNLiITqmAc7LsS gWaNvtG8SwweUE7fRRIsMnpSQxuLGWmJYqePMhjTi8GH_cKrGF vRrGn10j8dGl6299IA3b1i4FmDOy/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_145452.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp96Iyk0o4dXKMekvuP5mBx2W_zPX2LcUzWhQx5zJhMU S2k-HdrrBGN1I-qEcujRM33L3HEZll2mO7RMDlaGd5Mm32TptOuNLiITqmAc7LsS gWaNvtG8SwweUE7fRRIsMnpSQxuLGWmJYqePMhjTi8GH_cKrGF vRrGn10j8dGl6299IA3b1i4FmDOy/s4000/IMG_20220424_145452.jpg)There are two very basic and rather bare looking concrete platforms – and up and a down one on either side of the tracks. The only concession to modernity are the steel and glass shelters – one on each platform. There is no car park, and barely any room for a vehicle to pull in and drop someone off. To my surprise one other passenger alighted from the train, apart from me, although having stopped to take a few photos, I didn’t see which way he went. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZyYyV82-7Rd6gN8OZyif3N-g5aHrXKlaz1Bj3qVovglCZ_lh8Dv-iBn5LJqfSnWEaWhkyrJhkfcAgXPWb3bfyuhz2bqsREslOwm3Wn tNaySAoFNCHggvwcJwL_mhLX4tu8LKm63d5QkGpM8FLfC0Kryw QMxhhyIE8wLIf3YaVSAPVeCHGYpZ0qLx/w400-h223/Oast%20beer%20barn.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZyYyV82-7Rd6gN8OZyif3N-g5aHrXKlaz1Bj3qVovglCZ_lh8Dv-iBn5LJqfSnWEaWhkyrJhkfcAgXPWb3bfyuhz2bqsREslOwm3Wn tNaySAoFNCHggvwcJwL_mhLX4tu8LKm63d5QkGpM8FLfC0Kryw QMxhhyIE8wLIf3YaVSAPVeCHGYpZ0qLx/s3761/Oast%20beer%20barn.jpg)After crossing the tracks, I headed off along the road, in the direction of Yalding, with the intention of taking a cross-country footpath to Laddingford. The road was much busier than I anticipated, but fortunately, in most parts, there was a verge where I could take refuge from on-coming traffic. It was nowhere near as bad as the recent “Hampshire experience”described by GBG ticker Simon, aka BRAPA, but I still needed to keep my wits about me. I was rather relieved therefore to reach the shady, tree-lined footpath and branch off towards Laddingford. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37Ni8iomxSdyef9i3rutvwk68GY2n02H7Q0aKsyJ65M CvZfZ-m3S9ofJSsfsjLid1qGdGuXwWDqSbYmrrucrkIX5bS9fYLu-Cqy7XHi6DnAxcfT4EonqC_p6VLIfR8NbbeNe3OXf8g2p3cur-uhdT6zbbO0fw4XNVgUplJBL8ELC1PPAlv34gv3WU/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_132525.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37Ni8iomxSdyef9i3rutvwk68GY2n02H7Q0aKsyJ65M CvZfZ-m3S9ofJSsfsjLid1qGdGuXwWDqSbYmrrucrkIX5bS9fYLu-Cqy7XHi6DnAxcfT4EonqC_p6VLIfR8NbbeNe3OXf8g2p3cur-uhdT6zbbO0fw4XNVgUplJBL8ELC1PPAlv34gv3WU/s4000/IMG_20220424_132525.jpg)Towards the end of the path, there was a narrow concrete footbridge, over a stream, and it wasn’t long afterwards that I could hear the sounds of people enjoying themselves. The path enters Laddingford at the side of the pub and so, true to the What Pub description, I’d arrived in the village 20 minutes after leaving Beltring station. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtq-_V1l7yqRC22lkAuv_MMY19j0DEpUZ2MDUyZLcQ9Gcm9X2psYz5 MolUUPCa2sjrk9rxM2HafvNVFRL3YyMjcV_pfNC6yRVprnHCBr ioh-82u9faODCd6h7NqsrIvjc8ze7K_-DjUk7nz6IklqFpyJTBIORAMwrZsjpEMqBjB2jXLKucjGjC-S3/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_131918.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtq-_V1l7yqRC22lkAuv_MMY19j0DEpUZ2MDUyZLcQ9Gcm9X2psYz5 MolUUPCa2sjrk9rxM2HafvNVFRL3YyMjcV_pfNC6yRVprnHCBr ioh-82u9faODCd6h7NqsrIvjc8ze7K_-DjUk7nz6IklqFpyJTBIORAMwrZsjpEMqBjB2jXLKucjGjC-S3/s4000/IMG_20220424_131918.jpg)The festival was in full swing, with an ample crowd of people sat at the front of the pub, and dozens more at the rear, occupying the extensive garden. Two women, sat at a nearby table, asked if they could help me. I’d already twigged that the event operated on a token basis – easier for the organisers, as the cash is concentrated in one place, but something of a pain for punters, as you have to guess in advance, how many pints, or halves, you are going to consume.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAJDYJPbZuBtglp14we5h7Qs0_GJbTErlcpUVW5txaV _69vSsRQIZwd5KZ0hcU-wH0eI5LZdpfsP13_Rae7Tr6lcGdlCRLGwBznnlrRi_WgRJg82Z EFRouzcajgMT0Wj8MvN5VKhcfPMlE0z0uM6F6i6-iDWwMOGpHqkm5FM-NP5dv6C8gWFMakLD/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_141706.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAJDYJPbZuBtglp14we5h7Qs0_GJbTErlcpUVW5txaV _69vSsRQIZwd5KZ0hcU-wH0eI5LZdpfsP13_Rae7Tr6lcGdlCRLGwBznnlrRi_WgRJg82Z EFRouzcajgMT0Wj8MvN5VKhcfPMlE0z0uM6F6i6-iDWwMOGpHqkm5FM-NP5dv6C8gWFMakLD/s4000/IMG_20220424_141706.jpg)
I opted for £8 worth to start with, plus a £1 charity donation. All beers were priced at £2 per half, regardless of strength and, as is normally the case at such events, a printed sheet giving details of beer, brewery, style, along with tasting notes, was available to all that wanted one. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTaX76P53AK_YxQxJDoo9ZpofPXhV4AKvD9zOPufadC JrExRyMoMxrLqvgvOJ9erktDTmSFPAI2CZDTlgySR-oKKxo4w9lccDXxuNzrpX4AuHAW9Bp_Nt9TaIpb2NaXLyJbF3yH KsObzio1_UyvNmpB56antRCy7G2IGw2f9ZrPXy4J4xaU9_jL7q/w225-h400/IMG_20220424_131813.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTaX76P53AK_YxQxJDoo9ZpofPXhV4AKvD9zOPufadC JrExRyMoMxrLqvgvOJ9erktDTmSFPAI2CZDTlgySR-oKKxo4w9lccDXxuNzrpX4AuHAW9Bp_Nt9TaIpb2NaXLyJbF3yH KsObzio1_UyvNmpB56antRCy7G2IGw2f9ZrPXy4J4xaU9_jL7q/s4000/IMG_20220424_131813.jpg)I had intended to stick with pints, but with a good selection of interesting beers available, all good intentions were quickly, abandoned, and I reverted to my normal beer festival habit, of drinking halves. My excuse was, I could try double the number of beers, but can beer really be tasted by drinking half pints?
Charles Dickens famously said that beer cannot be tasted in a sip, and he was right, of course. The Great American Beer Festival with its (in)famous, 1 oz pours, begs to differ, but a twentieth of a pint amounts to not much more than a sip, whereas a half pint equates to ten such thimbles! The majority of the beers were stored in an old oast house, at the side of the pub, which looked as if it may have been a stable block, back in the day. There were 11 in total, dispensed straight from the cask, in true beer festival fashion. For those who prefer vertical drinking and standing at the bar, three more cask ales were available inside the pub. There were also a couple of semi-permanent, marquee type buildings at the rear of the pub, with a band playing country & western numbers in one of them. I found myself a seat, plus a table at a sheltered spot, outside one of these tents, and made myself comfortable in a position where I could watch the goings on, whilst enjoying a few of the beers. I tried four in total, two of which would have been preferable in pints, but all decent brews in their own way. I also grabbed myself a cheeseburger, because it would have been rude not to have done so!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-0S7L2GyMkKKoCOSdv4Uu5FAAI8CnowqgfGqF0h9UikXAhvDaHt OOUAJt_GbBoxabkFQ_J8k_mcjYynh0Qu1cxC50d2v5hsy3yv4r 8rjLUHqcRigLN0fwWgfM2baa0FBdaYbywf3ZLWvJu1wX-X5nWLQAR4WyMi-SOt3pMkIBjngN-H4xPzGtS2a/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_135107.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-0S7L2GyMkKKoCOSdv4Uu5FAAI8CnowqgfGqF0h9UikXAhvDaHt OOUAJt_GbBoxabkFQ_J8k_mcjYynh0Qu1cxC50d2v5hsy3yv4r 8rjLUHqcRigLN0fwWgfM2baa0FBdaYbywf3ZLWvJu1wX-X5nWLQAR4WyMi-SOt3pMkIBjngN-H4xPzGtS2a/s4000/IMG_20220424_135107.jpg)
I stayed for around an hour and a half, chilling out whilst soaking up the atmosphere of this community-oriented beer festival. I allowed 30 minutes for the walk back to the station, arriving in plenty of time for the train, and was the only passenger to board at Beltring.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkJNqz78-pVD6T8Pv-IZfekJz8uATqceC7pxwnzI67XdxR7RhkTbPj8RVa68ChygQg09 QQh_tv023rA2iiu9mJikL6V09TPSuGUNxe-jNOKe5iz6h13aCghkJlqWIPxUoeQp73wof6fB0ZD88zgyLt__c 2yfpM_WZE5_EDEqQImPtacGuPkX37-mc/w400-h225/IMG_20220424_132211.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNkJNqz78-pVD6T8Pv-IZfekJz8uATqceC7pxwnzI67XdxR7RhkTbPj8RVa68ChygQg09 QQh_tv023rA2iiu9mJikL6V09TPSuGUNxe-jNOKe5iz6h13aCghkJlqWIPxUoeQp73wof6fB0ZD88zgyLt__c 2yfpM_WZE5_EDEqQImPtacGuPkX37-mc/s4000/IMG_20220424_132211.jpg)
As for the festival itself, it was a nice, friendly, well-organised, laid-back, and chilled out event. The brief snapshot I experienced of it, was sufficient to convince me to return next year. I had floated the idea of attending amongst the Beer Socials WhatsApp group I am a member of, but no one else was free that day. The photos I posted on the group attracted some positive feedback, so I think there might be a few of us heading over to Laddingfordnext St George’s Day.
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