PINTS aplenty were flowing at the weekend as Rugby’s Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) once again turned Thornfield Bowls Club into the county’s biggest pub for their annual beer festival.
Punters from across the country gathered to sample a huge range of ales, ciders, perries and rare international beers.
Steve Heighton, of Rugby Camra, said: “There were people queuing up from Basingstoke, Grimsby, Carlisle, Kendall, Croydon – they’d come in from all over.
“People have really made an effort to get to our festival, and that was because the beer list was fantastic. The selection and the quality were excellent.
“We encourage the public to vote for their favourite beer. Over 200 people voted, and of the 48 beers that were on sale, 43 of them received at least one vote.
“Normally, you get a couple of beers that run away with it, but this year there’s about ten of them.“
The final vote was still being counted as we went to press.
Festival newbies John Wykes and Paul Rodgers from Leicester. 25.014.009.rug.jm10
Owner and brewer at Dowbridge Brewery in Catthorpe Russell Webb with Steve Durrant festival organiser and head of Rugby CAMRA Steve Heighton. Picture by Jon Mullis 25.014.009.rug.jm1 (www.buyphotos247.com)
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Hardcore fest heads get serious. 25.014.009.rug.jm8
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Festival volunteer Ian James was in charge of the Tombola. 25.014.009.rug.jm5
Anthony Sharman from Wigston checks the clarity of his brew. 25.014.009.rug.jm3
Says it all really… 25.014.009.rug.jm11
Taking notes… 25.014.009.rug.jm9
