Events in the City: Bristol’s biggest beer festival returns to Harbourside

Bristol’s fantastic summer season of festivals kicks off with the return of Bristol Craft Beer Festival on 9 - 10 June 2023. Beer fans, festival goers and food fanatics alike will be headingdown to Bristol Amphitheatre to enjoy the very best in beer in the summer sun.

Already the largest in the West of England, Bristol Craft Beer Festival is set to attract a record 5000 visitors this year - a great celebration of the city’s brewing culture, and the craftand creativity that fuels it.

The festival, alongside its sister events in Manchester and London, has been a pioneer in sampling-led beer events - meaning ticket holders can try over 300 beers from over 50 world class breweries. This year festival goers can meet the teams and taste a full range of beers from local heroes like Wiper & True and Left Handed Giant, regional craft giants like Verdant Brewing and Tiny Rebel, as well as legendary breweries like Timothy Taylor and Duvel.

The festival also features winners from Raise the Bar, the national new brewers’ competition,and attendees will be able to enjoy some delicious drinks from other craft producers makingcider, spirits and cocktails.

This years’ Bristol Craft Beer Festival also sees a fantastic line-up of chefs and restaurants. Making their first visit to the city will be ACME Fire Cult. Led by chefs Andrew Clarke and Daniel Watkins - two of the biggest names in live fire cooking - ACME Fire Cult has been gaining national notoriety for its dishes fuelled by flame and fermentation. Inspired as much by delicious vegetable produce, this will be their first outing in their festival kitchen - with an aim to take the ACME Fire Cult message far and wide. A real coup for the festival, and a treat for Bristol’s food fiends.

ACME will be ably supported by sausage obsessives, Jolly Hog, who will be BBQ-ing some incredible hotdogs. Bristol favourite cheesemonger, Two Belly will be bringing ‘The Cheese Guys’ food truck ready for toasties and raclette fries.

Greg Wells, Bristol Craft Beer Festival founder says:

“We can’t wait for June - it’s been a long, cold winter but it won’t be long before we’re kicking off Bristol’s festival season by packing out the Bristol Amphitheatre with brilliant breweries, chefs, DJs and bands. Not to mention the 5000 Bristolians looking to come discover and enjoy the very best in beer. We know Bristol loves to celebrate creativity, independence and community, and all those things are really at the core of our festival. That’s why we love doing this festival each year - being on the harbourside, surrounded by so many Bristol icons, in the sun, with everyone there, it’s unbeatable.

Obviously the event is sampling-led, and all beer is included in the ticket - so it’s nice that people come away having really learnt and deepened their brewing appreciation, as well as having the best time. We’re excited to already be announcing some brilliant additions and there are lots more to come. Get ready to kick off summer with two mega days.”

The Bristol Craft Beer Festival will take place at Bristol Amphitheatre on Harbourside (BS1 5LL). There are three sessions across the weekend, 6pm to 11pm on Friday 9th June 11.30am to 4.30pm and 6pm to 11pm on Saturday 10th June 2022.

Tickets are available here. Each ticket includes entry to the festival, festival pours of any beer from any brewer, a full music line up, access to the people that make the beer themselves and a free beer tasting glass.