Many moons hence!

[Col ISIHAC.]

I know that this is an awful long way off, almost as far off as Hayes are from the BS Prem for next season in fact but stick it in yer memory banks just in case Margate get to BS Sarff next term.

Last year, CAMRA in Kent organised a beer fest over the Easter weekend. It was officially the most successful first event ever - with the beer selling out in less than 7 hours.

I was lucky enough to get there this Easter and had the pleasure of more than 160 beers to choose from, all - but all - in prime condition, even Kelham Island Pale Rider, which is a notoriously bad traveller. Got to taste several from East Anglia that i had not previously encountered and, strangely enough, got a tad ratted!.

£3 to get in, commemorative glass £2.50 (refundable if you hand the glass back again - but I always keep mine ) Very attentive, helpful and knowledgeable volunteers to boot.

Decently priced food and a good range of ciders & perrys.

Sometimes working away from home has its bonuses. Margate is a total pit - it has to be said, but as an away fixture; should it be on next season, there's also a number of very good hostelries to play with.

Just a heads up folks.

[ambersalamander]

Thank you, dear chap. Except that I shall NEVER call the Conference the "BS Prem"

I came into football relatively late in life (i.e. I was old enough to know better) so the Premiership is the Premiership to me reluctantly, but I will NEVER be able to say "The Championship" or "League 2" without correcting myself first. Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4, for fecks sake.

Anyway- beer. Well, we shall see when the fixtures come out. It'll never beat the old Riverside Festival, but at least it's in the South where most of us regular touring people are based!

[amberaleman]

Hmm, I'd heard that a lot of the beers were too green at this year's Planet Thanet festival. Mind you, my informant was Nige Sutton (beautifully-named but comically-maned) who helps to look after the ales at the Battersea beer Festival and is notoriously hard to please.

Margate is indeed the epitome of chavness - but just round the corner you have Broadstairs and Ramsgate!

[Col ISIHAC.]

Green?

Non monsieur!!

I always start with one I know, and can assure you that the Triple fff Moondance was spot on as a tester
Ater that, everything i tried would have been no problem in a blind tasting if using the programme notes - pretty comprehensive notes I should add.