Beer, music, food and sunshine on tap for new Hardingham festival

The Hardingham Beer Festival is taking place this weekend. Pictured are (from left) Mike Gibb, Alison Gibb, Kath Edmends, Carolyn Barker and Allan White. At the front is organiser Sue Daynes. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Starting this Friday evening at the village hall, between Dereham and Wymondham, the event takes inspiration from other popular local beer festivals offering drinkers the choice of 12 East Anglian ales and two ciders with live music on Friday and Saturday evenings.

The beer has been sourced from Nethergate Brewery in Sudbury, Wolf Brewery in Attleborough, Bullards in Norwich and the Panther Brewery in Reepham.

They range from 3.5pc alcohol to a stronger 5pc.

Sue Daynes, a member of the village hall committee, said she had been wanting to bring a beer festival to the village for a long time.

Hardingham Beer Festival organiser Sue Daynes. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

'I really love real ale,' she said. 'But it is also for the fantastic community in Hardingham and a chance to bring everyone together as well as welcome people from outside the village.

'Hardingham caters for lots of different age groups but it is quite spread out so we want to get people together. Everyone has been so excited about this.'

The aim is to raise funds for the village hall and its amenities. New equipment for the play area and benches for the field are among the items on their wish list as well as the ongoing maintenance of the hall.

Entry costs £5 and drinkers will receive a commemorative beer glass.

Hardingham Beer Festival organiser Sue Daynes. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Punters will then be able to buy tokens in exchange for pints.

A wood fired pizza oven will keep everyone well fed throughout the three-day event.

Local band Sugar Rush will play on the Friday, a mixture of classic covers and modern rock, with TimeMachine entertaining on the Saturday evening. They play music from funk to swing, ska to Latin.

Open mic on the Sunday features Teenstar grand finalist Will Daniel and more local talent.

Hardingham Beer Festival organiser Sue Daynes. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Also on the Sunday families are encouraged to bring their own picnics to enjoy on the field from 11am until the festival closes at 4pm.

Hardingham Beer Festival organiser Sue Daynes. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Hardingham is holding its first beer festival. Image supplied by Sue Daynes (Image: Sue Daynes)