November 28 date for one of Cornwall’s biggest parties of the year

St Austell Brewery’s acclaimed Celtic Beer Festival takes place on Saturday November 28 – and this year it’s going to be bigger and better than ever.

The 11th annual celebration of real ale and live music is being hosted by St Austell Brewery in the unique surroundings of the old wine cellars and vaults beneath the Victorian brewery. In response to the huge popularity of the event over the last decade, this year the Brewery will be opening up extra space using its historic Rum Store to increase capacity at the festival for a further 200 people.

This year’s event will showcase a selection of more than 100 great beers, which together with a line-up of eight fantastic live bands from midday to 11 pm, promises to be a great day and night out.

Preparations for the festival are already well under way at the Brewery, where Head Brewer Roger Ryman is busy creating his now legendary selection of special brews which are always a major highlight of the event.

Jeremy Mitchell, St Austell Brewery’s Marketing and Communications Director, said: “The Celtic Beer Festival has gained an incredible following over the past 10 years and the reputation as Cornwall’s biggest event for great real ales and live music. The demand for tickets has been so great that we’ve decided to open up extra space this year so that more people can join the party. We’re looking forward to this year’s Celtic Beer Festival being our best ever and hope to raise lots of money for local good causes.

The Celtic Beer Festival is organised and staffed by volunteers from the Brewery, together with suppliers, with all money raised going to local charities through the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust.

LIVE BANDS APPEARING AT THE CELTIC BEER FESTIVAL 2009 INCLUDE:

• Three Minute Warning
• Bucket Boys
• Dalla
• Scaramoose
• Tony Haven
• Big Guns
• Marble Fairy

Food will be provided by a team of Brewery chefs led by St Austell Brewery’s award-winning Catering Development Manager, Paul Drye – all using fresh Cornish produce.

The St Austell Brewery Celtic Beer Festival takes place between 11am and 11pm on Saturday November 28. Tickets are £10 per person (available at the door) and include a polycarbonate commemorative pint glass, programme and three drinks tokens. Extra drinks tokens are available at £1.25 for each half pint / £2.50 a pint.