Beer festival to return in new venue

An annual beer festival has announced it will relocate its festivities while the venue it has used for about 45 years is renovated.

The Norwich Beer Festival has run for more than 50 years and it has previously been held at The Halls, in the city.

The organisers said it will take place at a number of different venues this year, with the dates and locations to be announced.

Craig Harmer, the festival's organiser, said: "We know how important the Norwich Beer Festival is to the local community, whilst we're disappointed that the refurbishment of The Halls in Norwich will not be complete, we're excited to announce that the festival will continue."

While the event usually takes place from 27 October to 1 November, this year it will run at an alternative date.

Mr Harmer said the festival typically takes up the whole of The Halls.

The Halls in Norwich is made up of St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls and closed at the beginning of 2023 to allow for works to be carried out.

The building was due to reopen in April.

The 14th Century building required structural repairs to its roof and windows, improvements to make the site into an arts venue and electrical upgrades.

A survey of the building showed moisture had built up in the roof's timber after plastic sheeting was installed about 80-100 years ago.

Mr Harmer said organisers of the festival were told in 2022 that the traditional venue would need to close.

He said: "It's all about supporting the pubs and the breweries... this year we are planning to incorporate everything.

"It's certainly made a difference... we have to find places and build it from scratch and see what happens."

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