The new venue in Osborne Park, Newton Abbot
When Tucker’s Maltings announced its closure last year, there fears that the famous spring beer festival, which includes SIBA’s South West beer competition, would be a victim, too.
But the organisers have announced a new venue for the popular event, literally across the road from the Maltings, Newton Abbot, in Osborne Park, open from April 11 to 13.
Penzance Brewing Co Tucker’s (4.3% ABV), its last brew to feature malt from the historic maltings
Norman Lewis, chair of the festival commitee, and owner of Summerskills Brewery, said: “We were sad when Tuckers Maltings closed as it played a very important role in the success of the breweries in the South West.
“The festival was originally conceived to showcase the beer brewed with their malt, but has evolved over the years. We see this year’s event as just another stage of that evolution and an opportunity to look at how we can build on the success of the festival in the years to come.”
The format of the festival — to be staged in two marquees — will be similar to that of previous years, with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Real Meat Sausage Co providing catering, and the Maltings Taphouse and Bottle Shop open for business as usual.
Lewis said there will be room for 320 casks: “But the exact number of different beers is yet to be decided. Some of the most popular ones will be doubled up so that there is a good selection still on the Saturday.
SIBA cask beer competition
“The beer selection will still be driven, to some extent by the SIBA South West cask beer competition, which we hold during the day before the festival’s opening night, but we are also looking to fill the gaps in styles that this tends to create, as well as some special brews that don’t fit into the competition categories.
“The marquees will offer a lighter and more airy venue, and there will still be plenty of space outside on the grass. The stage for the entertainment will be in one marquee, and the bar in the other, so that the majority of festival-goers should be able to find an agreeable environment in which to enjoy their beer.
“We are expecting to welcome 5,000 visitors to the festival over the three days, with a limit of 1,500 on site at any one time.”
He thanked Teignbridge District Council, and the local police and fire service, as well as giving a special vote of thanks for SIBA South West’s Adrian Wood (a former brewer with Wadworth and Palmers), “for filling in all the forms, and to Richard Wheeler for keeping such good documentation relating to the event held in Tuckers Maltings.”
• Admission prices will be: £5 for the Thursday evening session; £5 on Friday, from 11am-5m; £7 on Friday, 6-11pm, or £10 all day; and £5 all day Saturday (11am to 10pm). Tokens for a half-pint will be priced at £1.70 each £10 for six tokens, with a refund value of £1 per token.
