Local beers at the heart of Winterfest

Tuesday, 30 January 2024 00:00

Local ales will be at the heart of Winterfest, Salisbury’s much-loved winter beer and cider festival, which is moving to a new location in The Guildhall.

Its silver 25th edition – for which local artist Fred Fieber has designed a new logo – will be held from 16 to 17 February 2024, and tickets are already selling quickly.

“After the cold weather experienced last year, I am sure that everybody will all be pleased to hear that the event is going to be wholly indoors and in the warm,” said Andrew Hesketh, festivals co-ordinator for the Salisbury & South Wiltshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which organises the event. “Winterfest XXV will continue the tradition of a comfortable, conversation-led festival and, of course, an excellent range of real ales and ciders.”

Salisbury artist Fred Fieber has created a new logo for Winterfest’s 25th edition

Beers on sale will include Old Smokey, a complex strong porter from Stonehenge Ales of Netheravon, Downton Brewery’s premium pale ale Downton Dream, a pale ale and a porter from Sixpenny Brewery, based just outside Cranborne, and Kick Start, described as “a very rich stout made with freshly roasted Columbian coffee beans” from Vibrant Forest, on the edge of the New Forest. Winterfest will be a celebration of the brewer’s art, both locally and from further afield.

The festival will begin on Friday, 16th February, from 6:30 pm through to 11 pm and continue on Saturday, 17th February, from 11 am through to 8 pm. Tickets cost £9 and include a complimentary glass and souvenir programme.

Drinks will be sold in half pint and one-third of a pint measures and card-carrying CAMRA members get half a pint free.

The 2023 event sold out in advance, so anyone wishing to attend the 2024 festival is advised to book now at salisburycamra.org.uk/winterfest