The future of the Tuckers Maltings Beer Festival is looking assured this morning, following a statement from the event’s organising committee.
Following the news of the closure of the Maltings, set to take place this autumn, the future of the popular Newton Abbot festival had been in doubt.
But Norman Lewis, chairman of the festival organising committee, has said today that he is “nearly 100% confident” that the festival can be staged next year in Osborne Park — the green space in front of the Maltings.
Saying that there had been close discussion with the district and town councils, he said: “This is as close as possible to the spiritual home of the festival, a venue we have used for 26 years.
“It is close to the railway station and town facilities, and we are sure that it will be popular with our customers.”
The festival dates will be April 11-13, and it will include, as usual, the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) beer competition on the Thursday.
Norman said: “The intention is to build a self-contained, tented festival with as much space as we had previously and possibly more, including outside areas.
“We will have to bring in all facilities — electricity, water, toilets, tentage, flooring, stillaging, furniture, stage etc — and this will include 24-hour security.
“A big ask for the volunteer committee, but we are keen to rise to the challenge and put on a beer festival that will be well worthy to continue the name of Maltings Beer Festival, a festival that has attracted thousands of people from all over the UK and beyond for may years.”
