Media News - Boston Spa Beer Festival, Boston Spa, Yorkshire.

Boston Spa dads give their best for festival

Wetherby News:  12 February 2009

A TEAM of dads in Boston Spa has turned a pastime into a money-spinner.

After hearing of the low numbers of men participating in PTAs nationally, the fathers decided to do what they do best - and raise money in the process.

The men, all parents of children at St Mary's Primary School, have organised the village's first beer festival to draw dedicated real ale fans from all over the region. The proceeds of the event will be shared between the school and Boston Spa Village Hall to carry out essential maintenance and building work.

Chris Flint, who has links with both the school and the village hall, said: "Dads like to do their bit for the local community, and we felt a beer festival was something we would really enjoy. We hope it is going to be the first of many."

As well as plenty of support from the local community, the group has been given the seal of approval from a well-known fan of real ales.

Commended

Actor Neil Morrissey, who stars in Waterloo Road and owns Ye Olde Punch Bowl Inn at Marton-cum-Grafton with friend Richard Fox, commended the dads' work.

He said: "It's great to see a new beer festival celebrating real ale. We hope the local community will give the Yorkshire Real Ales on offer a try at this event whilst supporting local good causes."

On offer will be more than 20 real ales, all from small Yorkshire breweries, as well as lager, wine, cider and perry.

Much of the organising for the event, which takes place next weekend, has been done in familliar surroundings - at the Admiral Hawk pub in Boston Spa. With such fitting inspiration to get their creative minds working, the dads are sure the first beer festival will be a success.

Speaking for the organising team for the Boston Spa Beer Festival, Paul Hunt said: "We are very excited about this event and about the support we are receiving from the community.

"We have taken a professional approach to storing and serving the ales, and we have ensured that most of our set-up costs are covered by sponsors meaning more funds for our good causes. We have to thank our main sponsor, MWS Hand Crafted Design, our t-shirt sponsor Gamestation and all our barrel sponsors for their support."

Entry to the festival is £5, with tickets available on the door. It runs from noon until 10pm on Saturday, February 21, at Boston Spa Village Hall.

For more details, go to www.bostonspabeerfestival.co.uk.