The Redhill Beer Festival returns to Merstham Village Hall at the end of October for its 4th successive year, with its largest ever order of over 60 beers, ciders & perries. In the hope of reducing queuing at the peak period of early Friday evening, the 2-tier admission fee introduced last year will operate again. Admission is £3 (£2 CAMRA members) at all times EXCEPT on Friday from 4.00 - 11.00pm when it rises to £5 (£4 CAMRA members). As usual, a souvenir glass and programme are included in admission prices. £1 refund is available on your undamaged glass if you prefer to return it. To have the best chance of immediate admission and the fullest possible range of beers, come on Thursday evening or Friday afternoon - although you are welcome at any time during opening hours. Frequent bus services from Purley (via Coulsdon) and Redhill will be replacing rail services to Merstham during the festival due to major engineering works between those stations. Rail tickets to Merstham will be valid on the replacement bus services so there’s no need to make special travel plans.

The festival will open on Thursday 30th October at 5.00pm, closing at 11.00pm; then from Noon until 11.00pm on Friday 31st and from Noon until 8.00pm (or until the beer runs out) on Saturday 1st November. As last year, the beer order has been increased. The proposed list of over 60 different beers, ciders* and perries* is viewable on www.camrasurrey.org.uk/redhill/. The mix will include milds, porters, stouts and olds as well as tempting bitters of all styles and strengths from 3.0% to 7.5% abv. Local microbreweries will be well represented with popular favourites from previous years returning alongside new selections from all over the UK. About 7 ciders and perries are planned but no imported beers. Good cold food will be available at all sessions.

This year's theme and logo celebrate the restoration of dummy sweeps (commonly referred to as sails) to the windmill at nearby Wray Common, completing a painstaking renovation of this Grade II listed building, now used as a private residence. Built around 1824, its working life harnessing wind power ended in 1895 when the wind shaft crashed through the supporting timbers. Repair was deemed uneconomic and the mill became a multi-purpose agricultural building. It was converted to a proper dwelling in the 1960s, although Canadian airmen bivouacked there during the 2nd World War. It was sadly allowed to deteriorate at the end of last century before restoration began in 2004. The Beer Festival programme will include a short article about the mill.

As ever, the festival is run entirely by volunteer staff. If you are interested in helping, staffing forms covering the setting-up, operation and take-down of the festival can be downloaded from http://www.camrasurrey.org.uk/redhill/ or obtained by contacting Staffing Officer Sally Gingell, on 01306 889466 or sally@folliesend.freeserve.co.uk. She can also deal with any staff related queries. General enquiries can be directed to the Festival Organiser, Clive Jennings, on 01737 778711 or redhillbf@camrasurrey.org.uk.