INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the 27th CAMRA South Downs Beer & Cider Festival at the Corn Exchange. We hope you will enjoy your session with us
The team have sought out 70 cask beers together with a selection of real ciders, perries and speciality ciders (cider with additional fruit!).
In addition, we will have a selection of membrane keg live beers from local breweries.

If you are new to CAMRA we are not just about promoting real ale and cider but campaigning for consumer rights; be this keeping pubs open as these are the best place to drink real ale and cider; but also on taxation, which affects the price of your drink.

TICKET DETAILS

See poster below for Sessions and Ticket Prices.
On-line tickets are now available as detailed below
Tickets will be available from mid-April at Harvey's Shop, the Brewers Arms, the Gardener's Arms in Lewes and the Evening Star in Brighton

SALES OF ONLINE TICKETS

Tickets may be purchased here - https://tckty.camra.org.uk/e/369/27th-south-downs-beer-cider-festival-2025 or by using this QR Code

A limited number of Tickets may be available for purchase on the door.

BEER LIST & TASTING NOTES

The Beer list and Tasting Notes will be published here when available

CIDER LIST & TASTING NOTES

The Cider list and Tasting Notes will be published here when available

HOMEBREW COMPETITION

The process for registering interest and entering the Homebrew competition, to be held on Saturday 21 June at the South Downs Beer & Cider Festival is as follows.

Please send any queries to ku.gro.armac.nothgirb@tcatnoc

We look forward to receiving your entries!

● Those interested, wishing to register should contact the organiser (Graham Eaton) at ku.gro.armac.nothgirb@tcatnoc with the subject line SDBF Homebrew 25
● Registration for the competition/intention to enter must be made by Monday 2 June
● Entrants are permitted to enter no more than one beer in each of the three categories
● Entrants will identify the broad beer style in which their entry(s) is being entered (*)

Bitters, pale, golden, IPA
Milds, stouts, porters, barley wines
Specialty beers including ciders

The following information should be provided by entrants (by email)

Which beer style category(s) are being entered
The approximate ABV percentage of each beer
Full name and contact details (mobile or email address)

● All emails expressing interest/intent to enter the competition will be acknowledged.
Each entrant will be provided with a unique code, which the entrant will include on the labels of their 2 bottles (for each category) and no other information to be included on the label.
● Entrants are required to pay the Saturday entrance fee (£6) to enter their beers (which includes entry to the festival). If card-carrying members, they will also receive £5 in beer tokens (so in effect, entry for £1)
● Beers should be brought to the Beer Festival between 11am - 1pm on the Saturday
The labelling will be checked by the organiser and the beers placed in the fridge (as needed)
● The judging will begin at approximately 3.30pm
● Announcements of the winners/photo opportunity to take place at approximately 4.30pm

There will be up to 4 awards made - one per ‘broad’ style as above, and one for the entry deemed to be the overall winner.
There will be modest prizes and a certificate for the overall winner.

(*) The organiser reserves the right to amend the beer categories depending on the number of entries.

CAMRA MEMBERSHIP STAND

This is in the main hall. The staff will be happy to explain the many benefits of CAMRA membership; and will be even happier to sign you up!

If you are already a member, or join on the day, this is where you can pick up your £5 worth of tokens on production of a valid membership card.

CAMRA and other Merchandise, bottled water, crisps, nuts and other snacks may also be purchased here for cash/card only, Tokens will not be accepted.

CATERING

Food, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available.
Hot and cold drinks, including tea and coffee will also be available.

No tokens, please, only cash or cards will be accepted here.

A separate queue may be in operation for our volunteer staff. This enables them to get back to the bar to serve you. Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

TOKENS

Beer, Cider and Perry can only be purchased using tokens; Tokens sheets can be purchased at the Tokens area in the main hall.

Unused tokens can be refunded for cash up until “TIME” is called at the end of each Session.

PAYMENT

Payments for tokens may be made by cash or using Debit/Credit Cards, Visa or Mastercard only, either contactless or by chip and PIN, up to a limit of £50; payment for all other items is by cash.

FACILITIES

Disabled toilets; the toilets adjacent to the entrance hall are accessible.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO-ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS PERMITTED; THIS INCLUDES BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN.

DOGS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED IF KEPT QUIET AND ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES

FESTIVAL CHARITY

Details of the Festival Charity will be published here

The easiest way to give is to place any unused tokens in the collecting box near the exit; we will remit the value of these donations in full to the Charity, or you can choose the traditional way with donations in collection boxes

STAFFING

The Staffing form for Volunteers is available for download here SDBF 2025 Staffing Form

Poster for 2025 SDBF