September’s beer festival calendar is always a bit more relaxed than the blockbuster-packed madness of August, but there’s still no shortage of beer drinking opportunities. Here are some of the best.
9 September: Beer On The Common
This Saturday sees the return of the one-day beer festival that was previously known as ‘Beer By The River’. The festival’s renaming is somewhat overdue, as it has not been situated near a river since 2015 (its last year in Morden Hall Park, near the Wandle), and has since relocated to Tooting Common. As before, the festival is organised by Battersea’s Sambook’s Brewery, and so the comprehensively detailed beer list features their full range, alongside dozens of real ales from other brewers.
Food and music will also feature, and the festival threatens to be ‘family-friendly’, with free entry for children. For the rest of us, tickets cost £10 in advance (or £15 on the door), although Londonist readers can save 30% on tickets here. Doors open at 12pm, and the festival wraps up at 10pm (with last drinks being served at 9.30pm).
14-16 September: Wandle Beer Festival
In the unlikely event that you’re disappointed by the lack of a river view from the rebranded Beer On The Common festival, you won’t get much watercourse action at the Wandle Beer Festival either — despite its name and the watery design of its website, its venue (Tooting & Mitcham United FC), doesn’t have much of a riverside view.
But of course, you don’t really care about that. Much more important are the 60-ish real ales, ciders and perries being served up from 12pm to 11pm on each of the festival’s three days (while beer stocks last, at least). Entry costs a mere £3 on the door, or £2 for CAMRA members (or those with tickets to the Tooting & Mitcham v Margate match on the Saturday).
Also…
- From 14-16 September, Aldgate’s Dispensary pub will be holding a beer festival of their ‘favourite’ beers — more than 20 of them, in fact — accompanied by music and, of course, food.
- The Antelope in Surbiton, home to the Big Smoke Brew Co microbrewery, will be conducting an ‘end of summer’ ale and cider festival from 15-17 September. More than 60 beers and ciders will help to wash down a hog roast and barbecue from 11am until midnight each day.
- London Brewers' Market will be setting up another evening session at Greenwich Market on 22 September from 6-10pm to celebrate Urban Food Fortnight. The full list of featured breweries is still under construction, but based on previous form is bound to be excellent.
- Hop Back Brewery’s only London pub, the Sultan in South Wimbledon, will be holding a beer festival from 22-24 September. 18 real ales, eight ciders, barbecued food and live music are promised.
If you’re a lover of beer or pubs, check out our ever-expanding database of the best pubs in London.
