It's cold and wet outside, so you might as well head something warm for a drink that's... well, cold and wet. Happy beer drinking!
7-9 November
The Watford Beer Festival, West Herts Sports Club. Now in its 19th year, the CAMRA-run Watford Beer Festival is a great place to sample a wide range of London-brewed ales. More than 80 ales, ciders and perries will be on offer in total, and various activities such as tastings and pub quizzes will take place during the festival. See the website for details of these and general opening times. Entry is £2.50, or free for CAMRA members.
13 November
Brainwave Charity Beer Tasting, The Farmers' Club. This charity beer tasting isn't technically a festival, but it's a chance to taste seven beers with expert guidance and raise money for a good cause at the same time. The event starts at 6.30pm and tickets are £40 - see the website for more information and booking details.
21-24 November
Waltham Forest Sports & Social Club, Waltham Forest. The club's 11th beer festival celebrates the beers of South Yorkshire. Running from noon each day, the festival will feature more than 20 real ales, ciders and perries alongside live music and food. Entry is free to club and CAMRA members, otherwise £2 or £4 after 7pm on Saturday.
22-24 November
The White Horse, Parson's Green. The annual Old Ale Festival returns, bringing with it dozens of traditional porters, stouts, barley wines and the like, as well as live music and all their usual fare.
28 November-1 December
Prince Albert (Rose's), Woolwich. The pub's winter warmer beer festival offers 10 real ales and ciders, and CAMRA members get a 10% discount. Open from 11am every day.
30 November
Not quite a festival either, but the first London Brewers' Market is at Spitalfields Market 11am-5pm. So far 19 breweries are signed up and each will have its own stall.
Buy the Londonist book of London pub crawls for less than the price of a pint.
