The Baildon Cricket Club Beer Festival is back! We had to take a rest last year but we are back in full for 2021. If there are still government restrictions in place, then we have contingency plans to still operate the event on a predominantly outdoor basis. However, fingers crossed that by the 23rd of July, all the main guidelines will have lifted and we will be allowed to have tables and bars both indoors and out with no table service rules required. Obviously we will follow all regulations to the letter so please have no fears that this will be a safe and secure event.
The festival is running in conjunction with our main club sponsor, Saltaire Brewery. They will be helping us put together an expertly selected range of up to 12 locally sourced, hand pulled, cask beers. This will be complimented by either draught or bottled lager and a variety of cider and wine options.
Gin master Ashley Free has already started gathering up his usual range of the very best gins to form this year's line-up. We hope to make the gin bar al-fresco this year - weather allowing! - to help ease the queues we have seen at previous events. We plan to have at least three members of staff on both bars at all times to get the best booze into everyone's hands as quickly as possible.
There will be live music on both Friday and Saturday night - details to follow, along with either a bbq or food truck available on all three days of the festival. After listening to your feedback from previous years, we are planning to have multiple payment methods available at all stations, including tokens, cash and card.
Work is currently underway to complete an all weather patio outside the bar and a brand new disabled toilet inside the bar. Fingers crossed both will be in place by 5:30pm on Friday 23rd of July.
The festival will open on the evening of the 23rd of July in the midst of our popular junior training night - hopefully our field will be full of families, playing games and enjoying a warm summers' night(!).
Saturday 24th of July sees our 2nd XI in action at Jenny Lane as Darren Wilson's men entertain Methley. Hopefully Darren will lift his strike rate to liven up the crowd...
Sunday 25th of July will see the third edition of the annual Heggers' Trophy match. A 40 overs a side match between our under 18's and a side made up of a selection of our over 18's! The under 18's hold the bragging rights from winning last year's game, so expect a very hard fought contest between two teams desperate to raise the trophy and bring the festival to a euphoric close.
The Beer Festival is our club's main annual fund raiser and as such we ask you all to help us raise as much money as possible. Please start telling your friends and colleagues about the event and book out the entire weekend in your diaries. We are looking to get every barrel of beer and bottle of gin sponsored by club members, businesses, pension funds, children's savings, Arthur's allotment fund! This year's packages are as follows;
Beer barrel sponsorship - £75
Gin bottle sponsorship - £40
Beer and Gin sponsorship - £100
For your kind donation you will receive £20 worth of drinks vouchers and your name will take pride of place in our event programme (both written and on-line).
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Ashley Free on 07415 709104 for more details.
See you all there!