Derby, UK – After a four-year hiatus, the Derby Heritage Beer Festival made its highly anticipated return, drawing over 300 attendees to the opening night at the Museum of Making on Wednesday. The three-day event, which runs through Friday, features more than 200 beers, ciders, ales, and perries from around the world, with a special emphasis on local brews from Derbyshire.
The festival’s return marks a significant milestone for the Derby branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which has not hosted its traditional event since February 2020 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of affordable venues.
“We are thrilled to be back,” said Heather Knibbs, 33, CAMRA’s publicity officer. “Even just one day in, people have already expressed how happy they are to see the festival return to the city.”
The search for a new venue for the festival took several years, with Knibbs explaining that finding a space large enough to accommodate the crowd while also being financially viable was a challenge. The Museum of Making, located in Derby’s historic Silk Mill, stepped in to provide a spacious ground-floor venue, offering the space with no hire fee and agreeing to split the profits from the event.
“We couldn’t be more grateful to Derby Museums for their support,” Knibbs added. “The partnership has been mutually beneficial, and we’d love for this to be our permanent home going forward.”
With the festival already proving to be a success, Knibbs expressed hope that the collaboration with the museum will continue in the years to come. “It’s been fantastic to see so many people enjoying themselves. It’s definitely been worth the wait,” she said.
The Derby Heritage Beer Festival will continue through the weekend, offering visitors a chance to sample a wide array of craft beers and ciders while supporting local producers and brewers.
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