London Beer Festival Round-Up: October

Dave Haste
By Dave Haste Last edited 125 months ago
London Beer Festival Round-Up: October

Good Libations beer festival Al-fresco drinking opportunities might now be on the wane, but there's still plenty of autumnal beery joy to be had with this month's beer festivals. As usual, let us know in the comments if we've missed anything.

The Anglesea Arms, South Kensington, 7-13 October

While it may not be of the same scale as CAMRA's identically-named annual behemoth, the Great British Beer Festival at the Anglesea Arms could still be worth a look. It runs all week (or until the beer runs out), with "new offerings" on the pub's hand-pumps and a new selection of bottled beers.

Croydon & Sutton Beer & Cider Festival, Wallington Hall, 10-12 October

Running from midday on Thursday to 6pm on Saturday, this CAMRA-organised festival promises 50 cask ales (all from within 30 miles of the venue), 15 ciders and perries, and a range of (mostly European) bottled beers. To help soak up some of that good stuff, hot and cold snacks will also be available.

The Crosse Keys, City of London, 16 October-2 November

The unimaginatively-named Crosse Keys Real Ale Festival looks like a classic JD Wetherspoon take on a beer festival, with the pub offering a large variety of ales over a fortnight. As always, the availability of the beers will depend on when you visit, although with a range of 50 real ales (including 10 brewed in the US) and the promise of 24 different ales every day, there will probably be enough variety to satisfy many of the 'beer-tickers'.

Twickenham Beer & Cider Festival, York House, 17-19 October

Another CAMRA-organised festival, this one featuring 73 cask beers, many from south-west London brewers, as well as ciders and perries. Entrance is £3 for non-members (or £2 with a CAMRA membership card). Families are welcome until 6.30pm on the Friday and the Saturday – what happens after that time is probably best left to the imagination.

London Bierfest, Old Billingsgate Market, 24-25 October

There's a decidedly corporate feel to the promotion for this shameless Oktoberfake-themed festival, with the event's website describing it as "perfect for both clients and colleagues alike". Still, if you're planning a company event, and have a £1,390 (plus VAT) budget to splash on a table for ten co-workers, then there are probably worse ways of doing it.

The Snooty Fox, Canonbury, 24-27 October

A stalwart of good beer and good vibes, the Snooty Fox's next planned beer festival is entitled Good Libations, "celebrating the new hop season and introducing new hop varieties". Expect some interesting hop-focussed ales, as well as DJs playing 50s and 60s music on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Nice.

Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer Festival, Le Gothique, 31 October-2 November

Rapidly becoming an annual institution, the Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer Festival will take place in the rather magnificent 'Le Gothique' venue in the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building – a Grade II listed building whose gothic features are well-suited for a halloween gathering. But there's substance as well as style to this event, which promises more than 100 real ales and 25 ciders, as well as live music on the Friday and Saturday. Entry is £4 (or £3 before 5pm).

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Last Updated 07 October 2013