Magna to be beer drinkers' Mecca

The annual event will boast more than 250 tipples and has promised a top line-up of acts to top off the four-day run.

The festival—accredited by the Campaign for Real Ale—is supporting a handful of charities.

Proceeds will boost Bluebell Wood, Rotherham Hospice, Safe@Last and Weston Park once the drinks start flowing in March.

Organiser Steve Burns said: “Last year we had 12,000 people attend, and we’re hoping for about the same this time around.

“Some of those obviously came along more than once last year, but we still ran out of the 10,000 glasses given away when visitors first arrive.”

He said: “We will have shuttle buses running from Rotherham and Meadowhall bus stations every 20 minutes, to support the public bus service.

“Ours will cost £1 to the festival, with the return journey free because we want to make it as convenient as possible for people to come along and get away safely.

“Magna is about the same distance from Rotherham town centre as our old venue at Oakwood, so people planning to walk or take a taxi should be pleased by that.”

The theme for this year’s festival will be white roses, with the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Cumbria and Hampshire strongly represented.

Dr Burns said: “In addition to the array of beers, there will be 15 wines, 25 ciders and about 40 different continental and fruit beers. There will also be soft drinks for drivers or anyone not wishing to drink alcohol.

“The venue is ideal and will be set up in a way which will allow visitors to have a bit of a pub crawl between the different rooms.”

The festival takes place from Wednesday, March 2 to Saturday, March 5 and, unlike previous years, all days will be open to the public.

Advance tickets are £7.50 (except Friday, £9.50), available from the Rotherham Visitor’s Centre, Rotherham Library, Magna, Asda at Dalton, and Morrisons at Bramley and Parkway.

Further information at www.magnarealale.co.uk.