Tickets go on sale for the biggest beer and cider festival in the north

The Manchester Beer and Cider Festival returns to Manchester Central from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 January 2018.

The festival, organised by the Greater Manchester branches of the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA), attracts visitors from all over the world to the cask beer capital of Britain.

They pour through the doors to sample some of the very best beers and ciders from the UK’s booming brewing and cider making industries – and beyond.

The 2017 festival featured over 750 different beers and ciders, and drinkers obliged by downing over 62,000 pints.

Organisers are planning to exceed the 13,588 visitors and expect ticket demand to be high for the 2018 event.

With so many visitors from outside the region attracted to the festival, purchasing advance tickets has increased steadily each year. Although a number of tickets were retained for sale on the door at this year’s festival, organisers are reviewing whether the popular sessions – Friday and Saturday – will have to become all ticket.

“Each year, we review feedback from visitors to make the next one even better, so we will have some improvements to make drinkers more comfortable,” said Festival organiser Graham Donning.

“They like the Manchester Central venue that has vast numbers of seats and more space to move around.

“The main grumble – at least from male visitors – was the queue for toilets at our peak times! So we have arranged to increase provision, meaning gentlemen can spend more time sampling our wide selection of beers and ciders from Britain and further afield.  And there will be a great  choice of food and an interesting selection of fruit wines.

“We’re open to the public for three days, but CAMRA members get the perk of a free-to-enter preview evening. We have a single entry price each day including refundable glass hire that minimises queues inside and outside the venue. Of course, buying tickets in advance is the best way of ensuring drinkers get in quickly to sample what will be a stunning selection of ales.”

Plans are in hand to enhance festival-goers’ experience with a series of tutored tastings run by beer experts.  And some of the best local and national street food traders will be serving a choice of hot and cold food.

As well as a CAMRA membership stand, there will be stalls selling beer memorabilia, books and a selection of traditional pub games to enjoy.

Tickets for the event are on sale from 9am on Tuesday 1st August via the festival website.