Dave Richardson looks back at the Oxford Beer and Cider Festival 2024
A rallying call will go out in spring 2025 for help with social media and securing sponsorship deals, to safeguard the future of the Oxford Beer and Cider Festival.
Dates have been secured for a Town Hall event from October 16-18, but attendance at the October 2024 event was disappointing. It would have made a loss if not for involvement by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), which approached Oxford CAMRA to stage its Midlands regional brewing competition during the festival. Although SIBA was pleased with the event, it is thought unlikely it will return in 2025 as Oxford is at the southern extremity of its Midlands region.
SIBA supplied around 120 barrels of real ale at highly favourable rates in 2024, so the festival made a surplus. But as attendance was down again, to less than 1,700 over three days, it would have made a loss for the first time without SIBA’s involvement.
Festival organiser Grahame Allen warned of a major increase in costs for 2025 even before any beer is ordered, with Town Hall venue hire increasing by up to 18% and security costs more than doubling. Total expenditure could go up by £12,000.
“If SIBA isn’t there then it won’t work, as I won’t get budget approval from CAMRA,” he said. “We face diminishing numbers, a massive increase in costs and uncertainty over SIBA’s involvement.
“But I’m not up for pulling the plug completely now. Dates for 2025 are in place, and we’ve got the next few months to see how it goes and look at the results of other CAMRA festivals.”
Another of the organisers, Matt Bullock, said: “I understand that without SIBA, the chances of having the festival in 2025 are slim. We need younger people to come in and help, as social media is the way forward. And what about sponsorship? There are also opportunities for corporate entertaining.”
At its height a decade ago, the festival attracted around 3,000 people or almost double the number in 2024. Various reasons have been put forward for the slump, including older people still being hesitant about going out, fewer people working in the city centre, research indicating that many 18-25 year olds don’t drink alcohol, and the wide availability of quality real ales in city centre pubs.
Those who did attend in 2024, the 25th year at the Town Hall, found it very enjoyable. More than 80 volunteers helping it to run smoothly, but had to pour a lot of beer away when it was over.
- Got any ideas or want to help? Email contact@oxford.camra.org.uk
