In the absence of a single Olympia gathering this year due to Covid-19, CAMRA is encouraging licensees to hold activities celebrating real beer and cider as part of a Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) at Your Local event from 30 Jul-8 Aug

GBBF at Your Local, just a week after the proposed date Covid restrictions are set to end, hopes to present the very best the nation’s pubs, clubs, breweries and cider producers have to offer.

The GBBF is normally held in August at the London Olympia, but has been cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The GBBF at Your Local is right at the heart of CAMRA and hopes to help encourage footfall to pubs and clubs and increase demand for brewers and cider makers.

In previous years, GBBF has attracted more than 38,000 fans and CAMRA is hoping that in the year the industry needs it most, those beer and cider lovers will come out to support independent and local businesses.

Suggested activities include: special guest beers; mini beer festivals; meet the brewer sessions and tastings; brewery tours and other ways to promote cask conditioned brews and real cider.

Events can be submitted via the GBBF at Your Local website and will be promoted on dedicated social media channels throughout the summer. Pubs and clubs can also contact their local CAMRA branch to assist them in setting up their events, and online and printed marketing materials will be available from July. Go to https://local.gbbf.org.uk/ to find out more.

GBBF organiser Catherine Tonry said: “We’re delighted to be able to bring the Great British Beer Festival to the pubs, clubs and breweries that have worked so hard to stay afloat in the toughest of years. We hope beer and cider lovers alike will make their way to their local to celebrate in whatever way they can, be that trying a new tipple, learning first-hand from brewers or attending their local mini festival. 

“This is a great opportunity to raise a glass to all the brilliant publicans, staff and patrons that have helped the beer, cider and pub industry to survive throughout the pandemic. Though we can’t get together at London Olympia for the second year running, we hope that people will take to their locals to get involved with the GBBF at Your Local experience. Let’s get back to the pub today.”

For further information about getting involved, visit https://local.gbbf.org.uk/ or email: GBBFlocal@gbbf.org.uk