11th Old Town Beer Festival promises four days of unforgettable entertainment

It will celebrate 11 years of beers, cider, comedy, and live music from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 May.

As ever, the venue will be historic Christ Church and its Community Centre and grounds.

The festivities kick off on Thursday 9 May with a comedy night at Christ Church, featuring an exciting lineup of comedians headlined by the twice Emmy-winning actor and comedian Fiona Allen. 

With supporting acts from Jonathon Elston and Ian Macdonald, and hosted by local MC Sam Michael, laughter is guaranteed. Doors open at 6pm for fish and chips and other food available to purchase, with the early beer and cider sampling. The comedy will kick off at 8pm. 

Tickets for the evening, priced at only £12, include entry, a festival glass, a festival guide, and the first drink.

Friday 10 May, marks the standard opening night of the festival at Christ Church. 

People can come along from 6pm to 11pm and try some of the many beers and ciders on offer while socialising with others. Throughout the festival, attendees can choose from a wide selection of 46 beers, 30 ciders, and for the first time, a wine bar, along with low-alcohol alternative ale, stout, and cider options. 

Tickets for the evening are £15 and include entry, a festival glass, a festival guide and two drinks.

Continuing the festivities on Saturday 11 May, the beer festival will be in full swing from noon until 10pm. People will be able to enjoy a day filled with brews and camaraderie, with live music starting at 5pm and continuing into the evening. Tickets for the whole day, including the evening, cost £15 and include entry, festival glass, festival guide and two drinks as well as live music in the evening.

The lineup of live music on Saturday evening is sponsored by Swindon's Rusty Garage Brewery, and will feature performances from Sweet Nightingale, What The Pluck, The Lost Hills, and the Driftwood Country Duo. Tickets for the evening only are £10 and include live music, a festival glass, a festival guide, and first drink.

Closing the festival in grand style on the Sunday evening, 12 May, is SALOS Musical Theatre Company presenting 'An Evening of Songs from Musicals' at Christ Church from 6pm to 9pm. It will feature hits from The Greatest Showman, Miss Saigon, Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, and more, and tickets for this finale event are £12 for adults and £6 for children, including entry and all drinks and snacks for the evening.

Festival organiser Chris Smith said: "We're thrilled to celebrate our 11th anniversary and we've planned a fantastic event to mark the occasion. 

"The event provides something for everyone, including live music, comedy and my particular favourite of musicals. 

"Of course, there will be a huge selection of beer and cider to tease your palette. It’s fun for all ages and if you don’t drink alcohol, we have provided for you too."

The event is Christ Church’s biggest fundraiser of the year, supporting not only its work but also the Wiltshire Tree House and Hja¨lpande Ha¨nder (Helping Hands) charities.

Food vendors will also be available on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the festival, including ‘Food for Thought' serving their fish and chip shop range along with burgers and vegetarian and vegan options. 

Glamorose will be serving a selection of cupcakes, tiffins, and ice creams. Hja¨lpande Ha¨nder (Helping Hands) will be serving up teas, coffees and cakes.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on the festival website, or over the counter at various locations across Old Town, including Magnum Wine on Wood St, The Hop Inn on Devizes Road, The Beehive on Prospect Hill and the Community Centre at Christ Church.

The event is very inclusive, and parents are welcome to bring children and dogs.

The festival's website is https://oldtownbeerfestival.com/