Pubs boosted by success of Not the Newark Beer Festival, organised by Yupp Beer and supported by Newark CAMRA

With dozens of unique beers to try and plenty of pubs to visit, an alternative festival has been praised for boosting trade for town centre venues.

Not the Newark Beer Festival took place over the bank holiday weekend, with over 50 unique beers on tap, spread across eight different pubs.

The alternative event was organised after the annual Newark Beer Festival, which is traditionally held in the grounds of Newark Castle, was unable to go ahead as planned due to work starting on the Castle Gatehouse Project.

Organised by Yupp Beer, with the backing of Newark CAMRA, the festival has been hailed as a huge success.

Participating Newark pubs included the Fox and Crown, Prince Rupert, The Navigation, Flying Circus, Organ Grinder, Just Beer, and Oscar’s Inn, as well as The Final Whistle in Southwell.

Each pub offered a selection of real ales, and at least one real cider, with food and live music also be provided at some of venues to keep the festival spirit alive.

Director of Yupp Beer and manager of the Fox and Crown, Dan Brown, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon, it went much better than I could have expected.

“Every January we run a similar established event with a few pubs around town, so to see the number of people turning out for this is phenomenal for a first time event.

“Everywhere we went, everyone seemed to be having a really good time and the feedback we have had has been very positive.

“The purpose was to bring people into Newark, and all the pubs had an influx in trade, even the one that weren’t take part as people popped in.

He added: “I was absolutely staggered — people came from far and wide.

“The very first customer I served had travelled up from Swindon specially to be here.

“A lot of people were just pleased they had a reason to come out and that the festival wasn’t completely lost because of the castle works.

“Hopefully this is something we can do annually, and we will do the same again next year if the festival can’t go ahead.”

Dan thanked Newark CAMRA for their support in spreading the word, InXpress for sponsoring the festival t-shirts, Castle Rock for sponsoring the beer mats, all of the pubs who took part, and customers who made to journey to be there.

Sam Lucas, of Newark CAMRA, said: “The feedback we’ve had from all the landlords has been very good.

“It was very successful, with all the pubs saying they were much busier than usual.

“Our aim is to encourage people to enjoy real ale, but at the same time, to come out and support town centre business.

“The festival usually brings around 2,500 people into Newark, and so it really helps to promote our local pubs.”

Sam was also pleased to see The Final Whistle in Southwell was also busy, as the only pub outside of Newark taking part.

It is hoped that the traditional format of the Newark Beer Festival will be able to return as a full event next year.

Newark CAMRA are also organising a smaller, ticketed, winter edition of the festival to held at Newark Town Hall on November 21 and 22.