IT'S hard to believe but the city's real ale buffs don't seem to be able to organise a p*** up in the park.
Plans for this year's ever-popular Steel City Beer Festival organised by the Sheffield Campaign for Real Ale at Endcliffe Park have fallen through because they haven't got their act together in time.
The festival, the 34th, was to have been held in a marquee at the park from October 2 to 4 with over 100 real beers, ciders and perries to try.
However, the city council didn't receive the paperwork by the right date – and has reluctantly had to call time on the event.
But local CAMRA officials say: "Don't blame us. It was the fault of our HQ."
Spokesman Andrew Cullen says they had to send insurance, health and safety details and budget to the organisation's headquarters to be approved.
"Someone was a bit slow over the budget at HQ and we missed the council deadline. That was a little bit unfortunate."
But he adds: "We do have a Plan B which will be announced any day now."
He couldn't say any more because negotiations are still going on.
It's a monumental mix-up by the real beer enthusiasts who have had all year to organise the event. And it's not as if the council was being unhelpful. Far from it.
Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, cabinet member for climate change and the environment, says: "We have chased CAMRA a number of times.
"Unfortunately, despite our requests and reminders, they have not provided the details which we need for public safety and legal reasons."
The festival is normally held inside, at working men's clubs, and attracts a combined attendance of around 1,300.
Organisers hoped a marquee would bring in more people.
Sheffield claims to be the Beer Capital of Britain. CAMRA organised pub crawls across the city this summer to discover there were 184 different cask ales on sale.
That's far more than Derby, the only challengers to the title.
But some are saying perhaps someone had a few too many over the festival affair.
Andrew promises there WILL be a beer fest and it will be in a TENT.
He hopes to be raising a glass when the new venue is finalised.
- STOP PRESS: The new venue is Cemetery Park, Montague Street (off Cemetery Road). Same dates.
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