Sheffield Beer and Cider Festival drinkers in boost for hospital charity

Thousands of real ale fans gathered at the 42nd festival to tickle their taste buds with a wide range of ales and ciders - while also digging deep to raise funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

They money was also raised through donations of unused beer tickets, and a contribution from festival organisers at the Sheffield branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

CAMRA spokesperson Paul Crofts said: “It’s a fantastic sum to raise for such a good charity.

“It was far more than we anticipated, and shows how much local people think of the Sheffield Children’s Hospital.”

Cheryl Davidson, community fundraiser for The Children’s Hospital Charity, paid tribute to everyone who contributed.

She said: “We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated at Sheffield Beer Festival.

“To raise so much at the event really will make a difference to all of our patients and their families at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.”

The 42nd four-day festival took place at Kelham Island Museum in October, and featured over 300 different beers and ciders, as well as live music and an array of street food vendors.

The festival has a different theme each year and 2016 was sci-fi.

There were several drinks which fit the bill, including a pint of Star Trek – a 4.2 per cent pale ale from a brewery in Wakefield, a Hitchcock, a 3.8 per cent pale ale from Mexborough and We Come In Peace, a US amber ale from South Wales.