Cathedral beer festival most successful yet

The seventh annual Ripon Cathedral Beer Festival has been hailed by organisers as the best ever due to the growing popularity of the event and wonderful weather.

The MayDay bank holidayt saw a record breaking attendances with over 1100 paying visitors through the gates who consumed 2500 pints of beer, ate 700 sausages, pies and burgers, and enjoyed music from seven local bands, including the Dunwell Brothers, Holy Tamar, The Rebekah Findlay, MIME who supported the festival free of charge in aid of the Organ Appeal.  Many local families enjoyed the friendly and warm atmosphere of the event held in the grounds of the Cathedral. 

The event has raised over £11,000 towards the Organ Appeal, which now only leaves £39,000 left to raise on the total project cost of £300,000.  Fundraising will come to a close at the end of this year and the work on the organ will commence in Spring 2013 by the organ builders Harrison and Harrison of Durham. 

Margaret Hammond Development Campaign Manager, said “ I would like to thank all those local companies who sponsored the festival, Wolseley UK celebrated 40 years in Ripon by sponsoring the festival glasses and  Hambleton Ales and all the volunteers who helped on the day.   

 The Very Revered Keith Jukes, (pictured) Dean of Ripon, said “I am delighted that so many families enjoyed the day”. 

Work has already started on next year’s event which will be held on May Day Monday 7^th May 2012.