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Nottingham’s 48th Beer & Cider Festival: A Unique Experience
The Nottingham Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival, now in its 48th year, has moved through several locations before settling at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. This historic venue, the world’s third oldest test ground, enhances the festival’s charm, offering guided tours to explore its rich history. This year’s layout boasts significant improvements, featuring multiple bar sections with a diverse range of UK and US beers, including a special focus on breweries with female participation. Attendees can enjoy various food options, live music, and a dedicated cider area. Overall, the festival creates a vibrant atmosphere for beer enthusiasts to reconnect and explore new brews.
The Festival
I’ve been going to the Nottingham Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival for quite a few years now, starting back when it was held at Nottingham Castle, then moving to the Motorpoint Arena, and now this is the third year it’s at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. This year marks the 48th festival! It’s an awesome venue with a ton of history and plenty of different spots to check out. You can even chill in the stands and enjoy the view of the ground.
Trent Bridge is where Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club plays its games. The venue opened its doors in 1841, but cricket was actually played there as early as the 1830s, with the first official match taking place behind the Trent Bridge Inn in 1838. Today, it’s recognized as the third oldest test ground in the world. The first test match happened in 1899, featuring England against Australia, and it ended in a draw. There’s a ton of history to explore, so it’s definitely a good idea to book onto one of their guided tours.
The layout this year is awesome, with plenty of upgrades since last year. They’ve divided the main beer bars into three sections. The first section is at the Bridgford Road end, featuring a variety of US Cask beers from 15 different breweries, a main CAMRA bar with UK beers, and a No Half Measures (see below) bar that offers both UK and a few US options. The second section is at the Smith Cooper Stand end, highlighting Welsh breweries at the CAMRA bar. Finally, the third area is at the Hound Road end, right on the pitch, called the “Boundary Bar,” which showcases both Nano Breweries and East Midlands Brewery bars. The nano bar showcases breweries that typically whip up just 3 barrels or fewer, so it’s pretty uncommon to find these beers making their way too far from home. The selection of beers across all the bars is impressive, featuring options from all around the country, thanks to the hard work of everyone involved in putting it all together.
There was a bar called “No Half Measures” that had about 30 different beers and a few ciders to choose from. It focuses on breweries with significant female participation in brewing and other industry roles. All the beers were served by members of Nottingham’s women in beer group. Alongside local favourites like Ashover, Birch Cottage, Brewsters, Dancing Duck, Full Mash, Pheasantry, Round Corner, and Welbeck Abbey, they also showcased some brews from farther away, including two from the US. It’s an awesome selection and a fantastic showcase for this group.
There was a ton of brewery bars to check out at the festival! You can find breweries like Castle Rock Brewery, Blue Monkey Brewery, Liquid Light, Lenton Lane Brewery, Ossett Brewery, Nottingham Brewery, DMC Ginger Beers, Bang the Elephant Brewery, Batemans, Two Matts Brewery, Magpie Brewery, Black Iris, Lincoln Green Brewery, Woodfordes, Alter Ego, Urban Chicken, Thornbridge, Hollowstone, and Shipstones Brewery. They’re all set up in various locations like The Pavilion, Hound Road, The Undercroft, Bridgford Road End, the Smith Cooper Stand area, and Woodhead Hall.
Check out this cider bar that has a special East Midlands Cider and Perry section, showcasing 16 local cider makers, plus ciders from all over the UK and even one from Templars in Normandy, France. There’s also a key keg bar with a rotating selection of beers from various breweries. Both spots are set up in the Smith Cooper Stand area this year, and the vibe is fantastic when the festival is buzzing!
There are two live music stages at the festival—one located in the Bridgford Road Area and the other at The Undercroft. Both will host a variety of live performances all day long. You’ll also find plenty of food options scattered throughout the festival, including Cheese Toasties, Burgers, Crisps, Mac and Cheese, Greek Food, and Kebabs, just to name a few. There’s definitely something for everyone! Plus, the CAMRA learning and discovery zone in the Woodhead Hall is a fantastic addition, along with a cool stall selling Nottingham souvenirs.
Had a blast trying out a bunch of beers, catching up with old pals, and just enjoying the time on Wednesday and Thursday. Cheers to next year! Check out some photos I snapped and the friends I ran into during those couple of days. Here’s to next year!
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