Nigel Barden (left) and Pete Brown
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has announced key roles for BBC Radio 2 personality Nigel Barden and beer writer Pete Brown at its BeerX event in Liverpool on March 14 and 15.
Nigel will host the Independent Beer Awards, on the Thursday, and SIBA Business Awards on the Wednesday, while Pete has been selected as this year’s BeerX keynote speaker during SIBA’s AGM (Thursday).
SIBA chief executive, Mike Banner, said: “Nigel’s hugely entertaining cooking and beer matching demonstration last year was a highlight of BeerX for many, and he was an easy choice to present our beer and business awards in 2018. He will bring a professional but fun approach to our national awards.
“Pete Brown, of course, needs no introduction to most in the beer industry, having been one of the beer world’s most celebrated authors, columnists and commentators over the last ten years, and has more recently branched out into the world of broadcasting with panelist appearances on Radio 4’s Museum of Curiosities and A Good Read.
“We’re sure that Pete will bring his trademark insight, humour and knowledge to what is set to be a hugely entertaining and engaging keynote speech at this year’s BeerX.”
Nigel Barden provides a culinary flavour to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime every Thursday on BBC Radio 2, features with Robert Elms on his BBC London show, presents features for BBC TV’s Inside Out, for which he famously lived out of dustbins as a freegan and is a regular judge and host at food and drink events.
Talented brewers
He said: “I’m delighted to be attending BeerX again and to be in the honoured position of passing on accolades to some of the talented brewers within SIBA. They are a hard-working and inspirational crew who continue to spearhead the UK’s beer renaissance.
“I know Liverpool well, having grown up in Lancashire and having been a red since Bill Shankly was in charge. The city will do us proud.”
Pete Brown specialises in food and drink writing, especially beer and cider. His broad approach takes in social history, cultural commentary, travel writing, personal discovery and natural history, and his words are always delivered with the warmth and wit you’d expect from a great night down the pub.
He writes for newspapers and magazines around the world and is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme. He was named British beer writer of the year in 2009, 2012 and 2016, and Fortnum and Mason online drinks writer of the year in 2015.
He said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have been asked to give the keynote speech at this year’s SIBA AGM, and am looking forward to enjoying a great BeerX in Liverpool.
“While I appreciate the challenges facing many brewers in a tough market, I’ll be focusing on the upside of the current beer scene. 2018 marks 20 years since I started work on my first book about beer, and if you’d told me then how exciting things would be now, I would never have believed you.”
