A Week at the Great British Beer Festival
Earls Court, London
Saturday 30th July
Whilst Hinckley and Bosworth (H&B) members were enjoying the Cotswolds Beer Festival, I headed for London by train. Because of the hold ups I arrived in Euston one hour late!
I stuck to my original plan and called at the Harp, CAMRA Pub of the Year (Butcome Bitter £3.10). Then I made my way towards Earls Court via the Princess of Wales (Doombar £2.90).
After passing the Stewards (Team Tango) on the doors I made for the ‘sign in’ desk and got a staff badge. Down on the main floor, I joined other members of the P4 bar team, where we worked for an hour prior to the opening of the Volunteer Arms.
We decided to do a tour of the Euston area that evening which was handy for me as I was staying at the Commonwealth Halls just off Euston Road. I met my bar team in the Bree Louise, a pub that does good discounts on both beer and food for CAMRA members.
After a couple of beers we moved on to the Euston Tap, a new pub in an old building. The beers were served by flo-jet (air system). After two nice pints we went on to the Dorich Arch, where again we had two pints before returning to our respective accommodation.
Sunday 31st July
After the first night in my small ‘sauna like’ bedroom I was up at 08:30 for breakfast and then took the tube at 09:30 back to Earls Court. We carried on the beer set up until 1.0 pm, wearing florescent vests, followed by lunch in the Volunteers Arms Cafeteria. Here we enjoyed a roast beef dinner in what resembles a building site canteen.
Then it was back to work until 5.30 pm followed by two quick beers in the V& A.
We decided on the night’s tour starting at the Lillie Indian Restaurant in West Brompton, then on to the Cock and Hens in Fulham Broadway, a Young’s pub serving all of their beers. Then on to the White Horse on Parson’s Green (aka the Sloan Pony) where we met other GGGF workers and sampled Harvey’s Bitter, Triple FFF, Alton Pride and St Peter’s Organic all of which were in fine fettle.
Monday 1st August
We set up our bar of 28 hand pumps, beer line pythons and cooling etc. Monday night I decided to stay close to my accommodation took in the Lord John Russell, Bree Louise, Euston Tap before returning to the Lord John Russell.
Tuesday 2nd August
After a good ‘full English’ breakfast I had a 30 minutes walk taking in the sunshine, ‘fresh air’ and sights before the tube journey to Earls Court arriving at 10:30 in time for opening at 12:00.
The sound of drums announced the Skinner’s Brewery trade afternoon annual outing. There was a steady flow of customers until the official opening at 5.00 pm and closure at 10:30. Again we went to the V&A to listen to the festival organiser, Marc Holmes, make his daily report. After a few beers, coaches took us back to our accommodation at 12.30.
Wednesday 3rd August
Following the usual morning routine, the Festival opened at 12:00. Trade was steady throughout the day. As there was plenty of staff I managed a couple of opportunities to take in the rest of the festival in including 15 minutes of the Chris Jagger band.
Thursday 4th August
After a very busy afternoon and evening things began to quieten down around 9.30 pm providing a steady end to the day.
Friday 5th August
A busy afternoon became manic at about 4.00 pm lasting until about 9.30 pm with all bar staff at full stretch. Later I had the chance to see fifteen minutes of Ade Edmundson and the Bad Shepherds who gave a very good folk cover of the ‘old’ standards.
Saturday 6th August
The normal morning routine was followed except that the Festival opened at 11:00. At this point, our bar had only 6 of the original 28 beers on sale with us finally ‘running dry’ at about 5.00 pm. I had the honour of pouring the ‘last drop’.
This provided a short period to rest before the Festival closed at 7.00 and everything had to be dismantled. All casks cleared away, beer lines cleaned and packed away, cooling system stripped and boxed – and so on.
At 9.30 the staff party began. This is what we had all worked for! There was a huge hot and cold buffet with the V&A bar in full swing. Marc gave his final report and made the awards. Dwayne from Jersey, our Bar Manager trainee for the week received the ‘Golden Chock’ for passing the trainee course. Various silly games were played and the party flowed on until 2.00 am.
We all said our good byes and waved good bye to Earls Court probably for the last time!
1 bar and 28 hand pumps had served 107 kils (18 gallon casks) of beer!
Olympia 2012 here we come!
PS. Why not join me and sample the GGBF volunteer experience.
Bob Darnbrook
August 2011.