Beer festival back at QE Hall

OLDHAM’S popular charity fund-raising beer festival is returning to the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

The annual event was axed from the town centre venue two years ago when the Lib-Dem-run Oldham Council asked for maximum rent for the hall hire, which would have left no money in the kitty to hand out to local charities.

A festival event was spread around a number of pubs in Oldham town centre instead and last year it took place at Uppermill Civic Hall.

Labour has now secured its return to its favoured former venue for 2012 with a subsidy from the Leadership Priority Investment Fund.

The one-year agreement of £4,600 will cover the rental cost of the Queen Elizabeth Hall. The event – which forms part of the Oldham Mayoral Appeal and raises thousands of pounds for local charities — takes place on Friday and Saturday, April 27-28.

Council leader, Councillor Jim McMahon, said: “I was approached by the beer festival organisers and have agreed to support this event for 2012.

“This event typically brings in around 1,500 visitors to the town centre and raises several thousands of pounds for local charities.

“I decided to support it because I believe the beer festival is an important part of the cultural offer in our borough.

“Hosting it at the Queen Elizabeth Hall brings in hundreds of visitors to our town centre – often from many miles around.

“It helps to boost our town-centre trade and profile and is also a good opportunity for local breweries to showcase their products.

“The event all takes place under one roof so there is also no associated policing or marshalling costs. I sincerely hope that the beer festival 2012 is another big success.”

The two-day festival, which is supported and organised by the Rochdale, Oldham and Bury branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), will see another mouth-watering line-up of local and continental cask ales.