In pictures: Cambridge Beer Festival marks 50th anniversary

The Cambridge Beer Festival is back – and this year’s event is extra special, as it is the 50th anniversary.

The Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) festival, which has set up shop on Jesus Green, opened on Monday (20 May) and runs until Saturday (25 May).

There are more than 200 British real ales and 80 ciders and perries on offer.

Anthony Mobbs, festival organiser, revealed that two of the most popular ales on the first day were Oakham’s Citra Haze and Spiral Stout by Boudicca Brewing.

He noted that around 4,000 people came on the first day alone and estimates that by the end of Saturday, nearly 40,000 visitors will have passed through the gates.

“It’s just wonderful to be able to celebrate as Camra’s longest-running festival, that we’ve managed to go for so long and hopefully for many more years to come,” said Anthony, “and it can only be done by our amazing volunteers.”

Anthony, who took over the organising of the event in 2017 (2024 is his last year as organiser), says they are always on the lookout for more volunteers.

Anyone interesting in volunteering should visit cambridgebeerfestival.com/volunteering.

Anthony notes that food-wise, “we have burgers, we have fish and chips, we have curry, pizzas, and then we also run our own cheese stall, which does amazing cheese, pies, stuffed vine leaves, pickles, really large chunks of bread...”

The Cambridge Independent’s John Downing, who was there on the opening day, said: “A sunny Monday evening session was the perfect start to the beer festival.

“As ever, there’s a fantastic range of beers, ciders and more from which to choose, with old favourites like Cellarman’s Stout from the Moonshine Brewery, who have also brewed a new beer specially for this festival, called How It Ends.”

For more information, visit cambridgebeerfestival.com.