Videos of songs performed at "Three Cats Cider Social" Sunday 21st July 2013.

Here are five videos of these guys playing some great tracks at the "Three Cats Cider Social" on Sunday 21st July 2013 in Morley, Derbyshire. Sing along !



These were recorded on my old iPhone 3GS so not HD.

At this private social event there were 6 ciders for people to try : Three Cats Dry, Three Cats Sweet, Dunkertons Medium sweet, Naish Dry, Painted Lady Medium, Hecks Blakeney Red Medium Sweet.

Thanks to Chris and Sue Rogers for putting on such  a great party.

Andy
Follow me on Twitter : https://twitter.com/AndySavage1969

Thunder storm in Derby right now. View a real-time lightning strike map.

After weeks of very dry very hot sunny weather we have finally been greeted by thunderstorms first thing in the morning. Also lots of very heavy rain which is causing lots of localised flooding.
Did you know that you can view a real-time lightning strike map of the UK so you can see where the thunderstorm is and how severe it is?

Here is a screen grab showing the last 60 minutes of lightning strikes for the UK.
The next image below this one is a current map of lightning strikes for the UK for comparison. Scroll down a bit to see the live map data.

Lightning strike map for UK on 23rd July 2013 @ 5am

Personally I enjoy watching a good thunderstorm and trying to predict if the storm is getting closer or further away by counting in seconds between the flash and the thunder.
There are lots of books on the subject.


Next time there is a thunderstorm in the Derby area you may be able to see it comming by looking at the local webcams - Derby and Derbyshire webcams.

Live real-time lightning strike map for UK
If you would like to see real-time lightning strike map for the UK right this second then here it is below.
If there are no coloured markers on it then thats because there are no thunderstorms at the moment!
The map below shows all of the lightning strikes that have occurred in the last 60 minutes. Also what charge they were and if they connected between clouds or to the ground.

Here is the key
+CG Positive cloud to ground strike
-CG Negative cloud to ground strike
+IC  Positive in cloud or intracloud strike
-IC   Negative in cloud or intracloud strike

Photographing lightning is very difficult and offers a great challenge

Here is some intracloud lightning in Derby, NOT the Derby in Derbyshire but the Derby in Kansas, USA !



Hope you found this of interest.

Thanks
Andy

Video of Derby Caribbean Carnival 2013, Saturday 20th July. See every dance troupe here in HD.

Here is my video of Derby Caribbean Carnival 2013 which took place on Saturday 20th July.
See every dance troupe here in HD



Thanks
Andy

Derby Caribbean Carnival 2013 on Saturday 20th July. Family fun day on Osmaston Park on Sunday 21st

This years Derby Caribbean Carnival will take place this Saturday, 20th July 2013.The weather looks like its going to be dry, very hot and sunny for the Carnival on Saturday afternoon.

Here is my complete guide to this years Derby Carnival. Complete with detailed route map for the procession so you know where the best place to stand along the route to get a view of the dancers and their great costumes. I have also provided a smartphone mapping pin. The procession generally moves very slowly so if you have trouble getting here and parking then don't worry as you can soon catch up with the front of it.

On Saturday 20th the 38th Derby Caribbean Carnival Parade will take place, show your support for this annual event. Its always very popular and attracts lots of people. Derby's annual Caribbean Carnival has been running since 1975 !

The Procession starts at 1pm from Pear Tree Street in Derby. After leaving Pear Tree Street, it turns right onto Portland Street, right onto St Thomas Road, Left at the mini round-a-bout onto Pear Tree Road, right up Normanton Road to very top where it meets Lara Croft Way/Mercian Way, Down Babington Lane, left onto St Peters Street, down The Corn Market and finally onto Derby Market Place at about 3pm for the carnival showcase and live performances.

If you are a car driver and are around this area then expect to have to wait while the carnival passes through. Also the Bus route will have to change while it goes up Normanton road.

I will hopefully be taking video of this years carnival and will try an get it online within in a few days, it will appear on my YouTube channel : Andy Savage's Derby and Derbyshire videos.
If you have an account on youtube then subscribe to my channel and you will get notified when the video is available to view. Check out some of my other local videos if interested.

Here is a video I took at the 2012 Derby Carnival:



Here is a video I took at the 2010 Derby Carnival:


Here is video I took at the 2009 Derby Carnival :
I have taken quite a few photographs at these events over the years but have only got around to uploading photographs I took at the 2005 Derby Carnival. Have a look at my photographs here - 2005 Derby Carnival Photographs on www.derbyphotos.co.uk.

Derby Carnival Procession Route Map
Here is a detailed map showing the complete route that the 2013 Derby Carnival Parade will take on 20th July 2013. Click the link below the map if you want a large version you can print out.
Also the link below the map will work on an iPhone so your can see the route map when you are mobile.

My route map : 


View Derby Caribbean Carnival Procession Route Map. in a larger map

Smartphone mapping pin.
If you have a smart phone (iPhone,HTC,iPad etc) then you can use a navigation drop pin I have made for you. While viewing this blog on your phone tap the link below :

Smartphone push pin <-- Tap me on your smartphone to get exact location of the start of the Derby Carnival.

Smartphone push pin <-- Tap me on your smartphone to get an exact location of the end of the Derby Carnival.

When you tap the link above, it will launch your mapping application and place a "push pin" onto the map with the exact location of the carnival parade start. You can then use this marker to get driving, walking or bus directions from your current location.
For example on an iPhone you tap the Directions button at the bottom and this will pre-fill in the start and end locations so just tap the Route button at the bottom and it will show you either the driving route or the walking route. If you tap the middle button at the top, this will even show you which bus number and when the next bus departs !


360 Degree Views of the Carnival route, use your mouse to look around.

360 view of Pear Tree Street where the parade starts at 1pm.
360 view of St Thomas Road where the parade turns left up Pear Tree Road.
360 view at the bottom of Normanton Road.
360 view at Lara Croft Way (note that this no longer looks like this since the Derby inner ring road was completed)

The weather forecast for the Derby Carnival does not tooo bad at the moment so hopefully there won't be and rain for the procession. If you are driving in from another city then you can always have a look at my local webcams to see for yourself if its raining right now.
 
Thanks
Andy

Derby CAMRA City Charter Summer Beer and cider Festival, Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July 2013.

The 2013 Derby Summer Beer Festival is here!
Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July.
Follow my live tweets from this festival : AndySavage1969

Update : 10th July evening - The entrance to this festival is opposite the Quad. The right queue is for Camra members, Left for paying public. You will be given  a wristband to put on. Glass rental is £2.50.
There is free wi-fi but its hopeless, you have to create an account on DerbyLive to use it and its slower than dialup (see my tweets). The marquee is pretty warm even though it was cloudy so imagine if its sunny then its going to be unbearable in there! The stage is at one end and the bar along the side. The rest of the drinks are in the Darwin suite which means you have to walk outside and along to the entrance then up four flights of stairs.

This year we have gone all high-tech, for the first time ever you can now download a free Derby Beer Festival App, allowing you to rate and keep notes on your selected drinks. See my detailed review of this : Derby Beer Festival App.

Here is my complete guide to one of the biggest and best Beer festivals in Derby, If I have missed anything please let me know. I have included opening Dates and Times, Admission Prices, Maps, Photographs, Beer and Cider lists, App review, accommodation, Entertainment details including videos of all the acts you can see at this years beer festival.

Derby Summer Beer Festival leaflet.

Download a full program from here : Derby Summer Beer Festival 2013.

This years Derby Summer Beer Festival takes place from Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July 2013 in a large marquee in front of the Assembly rooms  :


Derby Market Place is near the Quad. Normally the summer beer festival takes place in the Assembly Rooms but this is currently closed for renovation so this year the festival is taking place in a large marquee on the Market Place as well as the Darwin Suite.

Map Location for the Derby Summer Beer Festival :

View Derby CAMRA summer beer festival venue. in a larger map

Getting to the festival
Derby Beer and Cider festival is located on the Market Place, Follow signs for Derby Assembly rooms or The Quad or just look for the large marquee. There are normally yellow or green "beer festival this way" signs around the city, keep an eye out for those. Or use my smartphone map link to get walking route directions from your current location.

By Train
Derby Railway Station is about a 15 minute walk away from this beer festival. Use my smartphone link to get your walking route. Upon leaving the railway station you will need to turn right onto Railway Terrace, you will see the Waterfall pub in front of you (old Railway Institute building).
From outside The Waterfall you can catch one of many different bus services into Derby Bus Station such as 45, 40, 44, 73, 109, 702, Skylink, X52 These all stop at the bus station so plenty of choice.
When you are coming back from the beer festival these same buses can be caught from the bus station and will drop you off at the new frontage at Derby Railway Station. So perfect if you are planning on using the train to get here.

By Bus
Derby Bus Station is conveniently located right in the centre of Derby and is just a couple of minutes walk to the beer festival. You can pretty much get a bus from here to anywhere as it's a major bus hub. The 40,44,45 and Skylink buses pick up and drop off between the Railway Station and the Bus Station.
Just turn right out of the bus station front entrance and walk into the city centre towards the roundabout with three small fountains in it then over that one towards the next roundabout with the large fountain in the centre, you will now be next to the Quad building and should see the large beer festival Marquee on the market place, This is Derby Beer Festival 2013 !

Accommodation
If you plan to make the most of the five day beer festival then you may want to stay in a hotel in Derby. Derby has lots of choice for hotels. If you are arriving in Derby by Train then Midland Road has several hotels to choose from, all literally less than 2 minutes walk from Derby Railway Station such as Hallmark Hotel (formerly known as the Midland Hotel)
Also just around the corner (On London Road) is The Stuart Hotel.
Just down Railway terrace past The Brunswick Ale house is The Alexandra Hotel which is a B&B and real ale house too.

From Derby railway station, walk across the footbridge to the Pride Park side of the station and you will find the Ramada Encore Derby on Locomotive Way and Express by Holiday Inn on Pride Parkway both just a few minutes stroll away.

If you prefer a hotel that is conveniently located in the City Centre so you can easily walk to the beer festival then you have a choice of hotels such as The Holiday Inn or Hilton Derby which are both located within the Riverlights Bus Station complex. The beer festival is just a 3 minute walk from here, You can't get any closer than that!
There is the Cathedral Quarter Hotel on St Mary's Gate if you want something a bit posh. A Jurys Inn hotel at the very top of Iron Gate which is about 5 minute walk to the beer festival.

If you are arriving by car and are not familiar with the layout of Derby then you may prefer a hotel that is located off a main road that is easy to find.
For example hotels located on Pride Park such as Travelodge Derby on Derwent Parade, Express by Holiday Inn on Pride Parkway or Premier Inn Derby East on Stanier way at The Wyvern. These hotels are all easy to find from the A52 and the Jurys Inns Derby Hotel on King Street.

Smartphone Map Location
Click here for a Smartphone Drop Pin <-- Tap this link on your iPhone.
When you tap the link above, it will launch your mapping application and place a "push pin" onto the map with the exact location of the entrance to Derby summer beer festival. You can then use this marker to get driving, walking or bus directions from your current location.
For example on an iPhone you tap the Directions button at the bottom and this will pre-fill in the start and end locations so just tap the Route button at the bottom and it will show you either the driving route or the walking route.




Its best to arrive by foot, there is plenty of parking outside for your Beer Scooter :)

Here are the opening times for the 2013 Deby beer festival.

• Wed 10th July 6:30pm to 11pm
• Thurs 11th July 11am to 11pm
• Fri 12th July - 11am to 11pm
• Sat 13th July - 11am to 11pm
• Sun 14th July - 12pm to 2pm

Admission Prices for non-camra members :

• Wed 6:30pm -11pm £3
• Thur 11am - 5:30pm £1, 5.30pm onwards £5
• Fri 11am - 5:30pm £2, 5.30pm onwards £6
• Sat 11am - 5:30pm £3, 5.30pm onwards £6
• Sun Free entry to all

Admission is completely free to CAMRA Members.

Beer and Cider list for 2013 (use the free app for an up to date list):

Ciders
Ashover 6.0% - Medium from Ashover, Derbyshire.
Biddenden Bushels 6.0% - Med Sweet from Ashford, Kent.
Bottle Kicking 7.0% - Med Sweet from Hallaton, Leicestershire.
Carey Organic 7.0% - Med Dry from Carey, Herefordshire.
Charnwood 6.0% - Med Dry from Charnwood, Leicestershire.
Dunkertons 7.0% - Med Sweet from Pembridge, Herefordshire.
Double Vision 7.4% - Med Sweet from Maidstone, Kent.
Greenwood 6.0% - Medium from Carleton Rode, Norfolk.
Gwatkins Stoke Red 7.5% - Sweet from Abbeydore, Herefordshire.
Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon 7.2% - Medium from Pontypridd, Glamorgan.
Gwynt y Ddraig Celtic Warrior 5.5% - Med Sweet from Pontypridd, Glamorgan.
Hecks Bramley & Honey 6.5% - Medium from Street, Somerset.
Hecks Port Wine of Glastonbury 6.5% - Med Sweet from Street, Somerset.
Naish 6.0% - Dry from West Pennard, Somerset.
Parson's Choice 6.0% - Sweet from West Lyng, Somerset.
Pickled Pig Porkers Snout 6.5% - Medium from Streatham, Cambridgeshire.
Rich 6.0% - Sweet from Watchfield, Somerset.
Rockingham 6.5% - Medium Dry from Rockingham, Leicestershire.
Ross-on Wye 6.5% - Medium from Peterstow, Herefordshire.
Sheppys 6.0% - Med Sweet from Bradford-on-Tone, Somerset.
Spencer & Haspel 8.4% - Dry from Ockbrook, Derbyshire.
Springfield Red Dragon 7.1% - Medium from Llangovan, Monmouthshire.
Swallowfields 5.6% - Medium from Hope Mansell, Herefordshire.
Thatchers Cheddar Valley 6.0% - Med Sweet from Sandford, Somerset.
Three Cats 6.7% - Sweet from Morley, Derbyshire.
Westcroft Janets Jungle Juice 6.5% - Medium from Brent Knoll, Somerset.
Whin Hill Dabinett 7.0% - Med Dry from Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.
Wilkins 6.0% - Med Sweet from Wedmore, Somerset.
Winkleigh Autumn Scrumpy 7.5% - Med Sweet from Winkleigh, Devon.
Woodys 6.0% - Medium from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Perries
Broadoak 7.5% - Sweet from Clutton Hill, Somerset.
Butford Organics 6.5% - Med Dry from Bodenham, Herefordshire.
Double Vision Impaired Vision 7.4% - Med Sweet from Maidstone, Kent.
Dunkertons 6.0% - Med Sweet from Pembridge, Herefordshire.
Gwynt y Ddraig Two Trees 4.5% - Med Sweet from Pontypridd, Glamorgan.
Hecks Blakeney Red 6.5% - Medium from Street, Somerset.
Newton Court 6.0% - Sweet from Leominster, Herefordshire.
Pickled Pig 6.5% - Medium from Streatham, Cambridgeshire.
Rathays 7.0% - Medium from Sutton St. Nicholas, Hereford.
Ross Cider & Perry Co. 6.0% - Med Dry from Peterstow, Herefordshire.
Swallowfields Painted Lady 5.5% - Med Sweet from Hope Mansell, Herefordshire.
Whin Hill 6.0% - Medium from Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk.

Darwin Suite
8 Sail Damson Porter 5.0% - from Lincolnshire.
8 Sail Mill Stone 4.5% - from Lincolnshire.
Castle Rock Else Mo 4.5% - Best Bitter from Nottingham, Notts.
Castle Rock Screech Owl 5.5% - Strong Bitter from Nottingham, Notts.
Castle Rock Trailing Snapdragon 4.2% - Wheat Beer from Nottingham, Notts.
Castle Rock Tway Blade 6.0% - Strong Bitter from Nottingham, Notts.
Everards Tiger 4.2% - Best Bitter from Leicestershire.

Marquee
Adnams Fatsprat 3.8% - from Suffolk.
Acorn Kazbek IPA5.0% - from West Yorkshire.
Acorn Yorkshire pride 3.7% - from West Yorkshire.
All Saints St Adbon 4.3%
All Saints St Arnold 4.6%
All Saints St Pirans Bitter 4.0%
Appleford Brightwell Gold 4.0% - from Oxfordshire.
Ashover Palule 3.8% - Golden Ale from Ashover, Derbys.
Ashover Sundial 6.3% - Golden Ale from Ashover, Derbys.
Barlow Bettys Blonde 4.0% - Golden Ale from Derbys.
Barlow Three Valleys 5.0% - Best Bitter from Derbys.
Bateman Orange Barley - from Lincolnshire.
Black Iris Abseil IPA - from Derby.
Bottle Brook Mellow 5.7% - from Derbyshire.
Bottle Brook Rapture 5.9% - from Derbyshire.
Brampton Best 4.2% - Best bitter from Derbyshire.
Brampton Wasp nest 5.0% - from Derbyshire.
Brunswick Rocket 4.7% - from Derby.
Buxton Axe Edge 6.8% - from Buxton, Derbys.
Buxton Gold 5.2% - from Buxton, Derbys.
Castle Rock Black Gold 3.7% - Mild from Nottingham, Notts.
Castle Rock Harvest Pale 3.8% - Golden Ale from Nottingham, Notts.
Coastal Errosion 7.5% - from Cornwall.
Coastal Hop Monster 3.7% - from Cornwall.
Coastal Merry Maidens Mild 4.0% - Mild from Cornwall.
Coppice Side Derby Blonde - from Heanor, Derbyshire.
Coppice Side Old Minor - from Heanor, Derbyshire.
Dark Star American Pale Ale 4.7% - from West Sussex.
Dark Star Espresso 4.2% - from West Sussex.
Dark Star Hophead 3.8% - from West Sussex.
Dark Star Revelation 5.7% - from West Sussex.
Dark Star Summer Meltdown 4.8% - from West Sussex.
Derventio Abbey Bitter 4.5% - from Derby, Derbyshire.
Derventio Cleopatra 5.0% - from Derby, Derbyshire.
Marlpool Blind Borris 3.5% - Mild from Marlpool, Derbyshire.
Marlpool Owd Sowj 5.0% - Strong Bitter from Marlpool, Derbyshire.
Muirhouse Bar
Muirhouse Tick Tock 4.0% - Festival Special from Ilkeston, Derbys.
Muirhouse Shopping for Hops 3.9% - from Ilkeston, Derbys.
Muirhouse Summit Hoppy 4.0% - from Ilkeston, Derbys.
Muirhouse Magnum Mild 4.5% - Mild from Ilkeston, Derbys.
Muirhouse Hat Trick IPA 5.2% - from Ilkeston, Derbys.
Muirhouse Stumbling About 5.2% - from Ilkeston, Derbys.
Fullers Bar
Fullers London Pride - from Chiswick, London.

Here is a video of the opening night of the 2012 Derby Summer Beer Festival :



Live Entertainment at Derby Beer Festival 2013  :

WEDNESDAY EVENING

Liquid Brass


In addition, Ripley Morris Men will be strutting their stuff in the musical breaks.
Ripley Morris Men video on Youtube.

THURSDAY AFTERNOON

Martin Atterbury
Video of Martin playing at Burton Beer Festival this year.

THURSDAY EVENING

A welcome return from Radio Mary. As well as playing all the usual venues, the band has also delighted race-goers at the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree's Grand National !
Video of Radio Mary.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Bill Bailey's Jazz Band are back for a session of New Orleans Blues and foot-tapping trad jazz.
Video of Bill Baileys Jazz Band.

FRIDAY EVENING

Shamus O'Blivion
Video of Shamus O'Blivion.

The Herron Brothers
Video of the Herron Brothers.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

3 Eyed Fox
Video of 3 Eyed Fox.

Rip it up

SATURDAY EVENING

Joint Honours
Video of Joint Honours.

The Legendary Steaming Isaacs

Backline Blues
Video of Backline Blues.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Blues Town will give visitors the best of R and B with the help of a few guests.

-------------

By the way if you  are a cider lover and don't get a chance to goto Derby Beer and cider Festival then goto the JD Wetherspoons Cider Festival that starts on the same day but runs to the end of July.

Enjoy !

Thanks
Andy

Derby Beer Festival App for the Derby CAMRA City Charter Summer Beer and cider Festival 2013. A great idea !

The Derby CAMRA City Charter Summer Beer and cider Festival runs from Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July 2013
This year we have gone all high-tech, for the first time ever you can now download a free Derby Beer Festival App from the Apple App Store here. Yes seriously !

The free Derby Beer Festival App for iPhone.
Use the link above to download it or on your iPhone tap App Store icon and search for derby beer festival You will need an iPhone 3GS or better to run this app.
This is a first for any beer festival and what a great idea it is. This is not an app for the sake of making an app. This is actually very useful. Someone has clearly really thought about the features of this app in great detail and it shows as you will soon see.
If you're a Beerticker then I dare say you will like this app a lot, unless you are still one of those that carries a large bundle of soiled notes with you to festivals.

When you tap the Dby Beer Fest icon, the first screen you see is the Drinks screen. This lists in alphabetical order all of the Beer, Cider, Perry, Mead and Continental beers that will be at the Derby Beer and cider festival 2013.




If you tap the search icon this will present you with a screen where you can filter your drinks list.
There are some very handy options on this page. For a start you can actually get it to only list drinks that are available at this time, ie ones that are on draught right now. I guess if its run out then this fact will be updated on this screen which is rather handy if it is.

You can get it to only show ones you have tried or only show ones you have not tried yet.
The list can be organised by Brewery, Name, ABV or your rating.
Below this is a scroll wheel that allows you to only list Beer, Continental, Cider, Perry or Mead.
If you click done this will then show your selected drinks. The scroll wheel even allows sub-filtering  so for instance if you select Cider you can also select Sweet, Medium Sweet, Medium, Dry etc.
or for beers it offers 10 different sub filters such as Bitter, Pale, Strong,  Porter etc.



So back at the Drinks list you can scroll through all of your drinks that you have filtered. Tap the A-Z letters down the right to jump to that letter.
On this screen you can tap on any drink and it will then take you to a screen which tells you about that drink and useful stuff such as which bar its at "Bar : Marquee" for instance.

Now for the clever stuff, If you scroll down you can mark the drink as tried, add it to your shortlist, rate it out of 5, Add your own notes, take a photo of your drink and even share your info via email, Text or Twitter.





Viewing the my notes and photo section for Three Cats cider :



At the bottom of the app are buttons for Ale Trail - this shows a map with all of Derby's real ale pubs marked on them and your current location. If you tap one of the pins then it gives your more detail on that pub and what they are serving.



The final button at the bottom opens up a screen full of info such as opening times, chairman's welcome, Entertainment, Beer styles, Sponsors etc



It will be interesting to see how this app works in practise, if it does then I can see this being very good for those with iPhones.

Note that the Assembly Rooms will be providing free Wi-Fi throughout the venue so this app should work really well.

Thanks
Andy

Driving video from Croots Farm Shop, Duffield to Osmaston, Derby. June 2013 in realtime.

This is a realtime driving video recorded at 1080p HD on the morning of Saturday 8th June 2013.
This journey starts in the car park of Croots Farm shop in Duffield, Derbyshire, UK and ends in the suburb of Osmaston, Derby, UK.

Turn the volume up, set to fullscreen at 720p Sit back and relax and come along for the ride on this nice summers day :


Andy's Driving videos around Derby, Derbyshire, UK :
Are you an ex-pat of Derby, feeling homesick? Or perhaps you just want a clear way of giving someone directions to a location in Derby or just want to show people your Derby Street. Well in this video and the many others I have made, you will be able to take a virtual drive around the city of Derby's streets as though you were in the driving seat. I use a dash-mounted camera, Traffic lights and heavy traffic have been edited out.

Best watched at 720p/1080p fullscreen (if your system/net connection is up to it).

Complete driving route map for this journey : http://goo.gl/maps/1rDHy

⌘ Music used in my video ⌘
00:00 Cascade by Geoplex
03:17 Ocean of Stars by Geoplex
07:24 Anthem (wip) by TerraNation
10:40 Cloudburst by Geoplex
14:02 Origin by Geoplex
17:43 Solar Rain by Geoplex

Check out the amazing tunes by Geoplex and TerraNation here :
http://geoplex.newgrounds.com/audio/
http://terranation.newgrounds.com/

All music used under Creative Commons License.

Follow me on Twitter : twitter.com/AndySavage1969

My review of the 2013 CAMRA Greater Manchester Cider and Perry Festival. I was on Offical Cider tasting panel !

A couple of weeks ago I attended the 2013 CAMRA Greater Manchester Cider and Perry Festival.
This was the 3rd Cider and Perry festival but the first time I've been to it. The only reason we knew about this dedicated festival was because of a flyer on the wall at Stockport Beer and Cider Festival a few weeks before this.

The Palace Hotel, Manchester :



This festival took place at the Palace Hotel in the Copper Face Jacks Bar on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June 2013.

The Palace Hotel is a stunning Victorian Gothic building with an impressive 217-foot-tall clock tower.
Grade II* listed red brick and terracotta building, designed for the Refuge Assurance Company.
Look at this amazing Terracotta  design around the entrance:

The entrance to the Manchester Cider Festival at the Palace Hotel

It was built 1891–1895. The inside has Burmantofts faience and glazed brick as you can see here on the entrance down to the Festival bar. Amazing stuff.

The interior of this hotel was amazing, covered in stunning Terracotta and Glazed tiles like this.

Once down in the Copper Face Jacks bar you could hire your 1/2 pint festival glass.

The bar was well stocked with Ciders and Perries and served by friendly staff. Here is a photograph (taken with iPhone) of the bar on the second day of the festival.
There were over 60 different real ciders and perries to try from all over the UK. As is usual at festivals you could have either a 1/3 or a 1/2 pint. There was no option to have a pint for obvious reasons.

The bar on day 2 of the festival.

You were able to buy a carry out of your favorite cider. I bought a litre of Burnards Montys Double, I actually wanted to take away some Burnards Okey Dokey cider but that was no on by the time I left on Saturday mid afternoon.

The festival glass :

Offical Cider tasting panel - Such a chore :)
I was chosen to be on the official CAMRA judges panel for testing Cider which was a great honor.
I have never done this before. There were six of us on the panel, we had a cordoned off area in the pub.
The table had 42 small glasses, 6 x 1 litre containers containing mystery ciders which were simply marked as "Sample 204" etc.
You were told how to mark a cider on its Aroma, Initial taste, Aftertaste and personal enjoyment. You had to cleanse the pallet between ciders with some water and a cracker. Once you had tasted all 6 ciders you were encouraged to go back and taste them again and change scores if you wanted to.

Me judging some Ciders for CAMRA.

The only negative point I would say about this festival is the lack of food. Its the only festival I've been to that did not offer any food which was rather annoying as it meant you had to leave and go searching down Oxford Street for something to eat. I dare say this would have lost some revenue as people don't return after because they have lost the cloakroom ticket.
An ideal food to have offered here would have been the classic Cornish Pasty, what could have been a better marriage than that ! or at least some chips.

I really enjoyed this dedicated Cider festival a lot and would highly recommend it to any fan of real ciders.

As I was stopping in Stockport I had to catch a number 11 bus to Stockport Bus Station then the 192 to Manchester then a 15 minute walk from Piccadilly Gardens to the Palace Hotel.

For information on the Manchester Cider Festival see their website :
www.manchesterciderfestival.co.uk

Hope you enjoyed this review.

Thanks
Andy