FALMOUTH BEER FESTIVAL
Friday 20 October - Sunday 22 October 2006

Introduction

The next Cornish beer festival organised by CAMRA Kernow is booked for the weekend of 20-22 October 2006, again at the Princess Pavilion, Falmouth (pictured left). Planning is well under way; what details we know appear below but will be refined as we get closer to the actual event.  In view of expected numbers attending this popular festival, it is likely that a marquee will be erected to house the ciders and cope with the overflow.

Some 120+ different ales from all over the country will be available for drinkers to try, as well as a number of ciders and perries. There will be a sizeable representation from Cornwall's breweries, with a good selection of 'local' ales on the popular Cornish Beer Bar. Hot and cold food will also be available. To help festival-goers get around the driving problem, we also give below a guide to Falmouth's good system of Public Transport - trains, buses and even boats! Entertainment of the 'live' variety will again be provided in the hall, on the Friday evening and during most of Saturday - details being finalised. The entry fee is the same as before at £3.50 including a glass and programme, but free the next day for anyone returning with a current festival glass. Card-carrying CAMRA members get in free, plus £2.00 - the price of the glass.

A competition will be held on the Friday to find the Champion Beer of the Festival, selected by panels of invited but independent tasters.  There will also be awards for 'best in class' beers, basically divided among light bitters, premium bitters, strong ales, and dark beers.

Entry to the Festival

Opening Times: 1100-2300 Friday & Saturday, 1200 - 1600 Sunday (or when the beer runs out, if before - it did last year!). No admission after 2230.
Admission: £3.50 (Free to CAMRA members) including a limited edition souvenir glass
Additional festival pint glasses (oversized, lined): £2.00 each
Free entry to all who bring a current festival glass on subsequent days.

A very limited number of festival tankards will also be available - upgrade for just £1, or buy one for £3!

This is a LIMITED edition of special souvenir glasses produced for the Falmouth 2006 festival - first come, first served.

The Beers

It's not possible to give details of all the actual beers (things change up to delivery day!), but being able to display 100 or more, we intend mainly to try to provide something a little different from the ones normally available in the pubs. We want to ensure the local brewers are well represented, and we hope they may have something suitably seasonal to offer. We plan to have milds, stouts and porters representing the dark end of the beer spectrum, session bitters, best bitters and strong ales, as well as several real ciders and a perry or two.

The Entertainment

Live entertainment provisionally booked so far is as follows.  We will post/update further details here as soon as we know them.

There will also be some pub games, including the popular and compulsive Shuffleboard.

Getting There

Public transport to Falmouth is either by rail - First Great Western Trains operate the branch line service from Truro to Falmouth Town station, which is almost adjacent - or bus. First Western National operate a number of services to Falmouth from Penzance, Helston, Camborne, Redruth and Truro, and Truronian also serve some of the villages around the area in the daytime. And if you're a real public transport freak there is also another option, Ferries from Flushing or St Mawes to Falmouth's Prince of Wales Pier, in the town centre!

First Great Western Trains

National Rail enquiries: 08457 484950 Website: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Default.aspx

`The schedule of First Great Western trains on the Falmouth branch line is published below. Additionally, connecting services to/from Plymouth are listed for your convenience, although connections cannot be guaranteed!  We are obviously not responsible for the accuracy of these published times - check with FGW or National Rail Enquiries first.  Falmouth Town station is 5 minutes walk from Princess Pavilion, under the bridge and up the hill.

Outward and Return - Friday

Please note:  Due to engineering work on Friday 20 October, the branch line will be closed and substitute bus services provided between Truro (front of station) and Falmouth.  Buses arrive at the council car park outside Falmouth Town station.  Further info from National Rail Enquiries or the First Great Western Trains website; times will be published below when they are known.  Alternatively, use the regular bus services from Truro (see below)

Outward - Saturday

Return - Saturday

Note pz: Through service to Penzance arr 2211

Outward - Sunday

Note d: Arrival at Falmouth Docks (10min walk from Pavilion)

Return - Sunday

FIRST WESTERN NATIONAL Bus Services

First Western National (38 Lemon Street, TRURO tlf 01872 71 99 88) run a number of bus services from outlying towns and villages on weekdays. The principal ones are:

Note: Other connections from/to  Newquay may be found by changing buses in Truro. Check with the operator at the above address or call Traveline on 0870 608 2 608.

TRURONIAN Bus Services

Truronian, 24 Lemon Street, TRURO tlf (01872) 27 34 53

Truronian buses take more convoluted routes through the villages between Truro/Helston and Falmouth and are more likely to be useful for the lunchtime sessions.

FERRY Services

Flushing - Falmouth (no Sunday service)

Ferries depart Flushing at 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700

Ferries return from Falmouth Prince of Wales Pier at 1215, 1315, 1415, 1515, 1615, 1715

Crossings take about 3 minutes. Please confirm times with the operator on 07974 799773

St. Mawes - Falmouth (Prince of Wales Pier)

Ferries depart St. Mawes at 15min past each hour until 1715 (Fri)

Ferries return from Falmouth Prince of Wales Pier at 45min past each hour until 1645

Page updated 5 September 2006