Get ready for the 10th Old Town Beer & Cider Festival – it’s going to be huge!
Swindonians are invited to join in the fun from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th May at Christ Church Swindon for their four-day 10th Anniversary celebration.
The event is Christ Church’s biggest fundraiser of the year, supporting not only their own work but also Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership and The Veterans Charity.
The festival kicks off on Thursday 11th May at 7 pm with its first-ever Comedy Night featuring a fantastic line-up of comedians, including Britain’s Got Talent Finalist and English Comedian of the Year Nick Page. Supporting him will be Andy Gleeks, Dani Johns, and Ian Murphy.
Sam Michael will host the event, and tickets are only £10, including entry, a 10th-anniversary glass, a festival guide, and a first drink.
On Friday 12th May, the festival will be in full swing from 6 pm to 10 pm, with over 45 beers and 30 ciders from local, regional, and national brewers for you to explore. For the special anniversary, there will be some specially renamed beers such as Holy GR-ALE, Hopostles, Ten Bells Bitter, and Vicars Tipple.
Tickets for the evening are £15, including entry, a 10th-anniversary glass, a festival guide, and the first two drinks.
The festival resumes on Saturday 13th May, starting at 12 noon and continuing until 10 pm.
Later in the evening, from 5 pm onwards, Christ Church will present their debut Live Music Night, proudly sponsored by the Rusty Garage Brewery. The line-up includes Joli and the Souls, Jol Rose, What The Pluck, and The Zach FC Trio.
Tickets for the evening are £5, including entry, a 10th-anniversary glass, and a festival guide. All-day tickets (12 pm-10 pm) are £15 and include entry, a 10th-anniversary glass, a festival guide, the first two drinks, and live music in the evening.
Finally, on Sunday 14th May, the festival concludes with a Renewal Gospel Choir Concert from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Renewal Choir is a community gospel choir based in Bristol, and they have supported Leona Lewis on tour. Tickets for the gospel choir evening are £10 and include entry and all drinks and snacks for the evening.
Festival organiser Chris Smith said, “We’re thrilled to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and we’ve planned a fantastic event to mark the occasion. Join us for a relaxed afternoon or evening to enjoy the wide selection of beers and ciders on offer, or ramp it up and experience one of the additional events we are hosting throughout the four-day celebration.”
Food vendors will also be available on the Friday and Saturday of the festival, including ‘Food for Thought,’ serving their fish and chip shop range, quarter, and half-pound burgers, as well as veggie and vegan options. Glamorose will be serving a delicious selection of cupcakes and tiffins, and the Friends of Christ Church will have a selection of fresh rolls and toasties available to purchase.
Tickets can be purchased in advance on the festival website or over the counter at various locations across Old Town Swindon, 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 their kids and dogs. There is a real community-friendly feel to this event.
