Derby Museums and Derby CAMRA partner to launch new Heritage Beer Festival this winter

Derby CAMRA, in partnership with Derby Museums, is proud to present the much-anticipated return of the beer festival to Derby with the Derby CAMRA Heritage Beer Festival – a festival in a unique location, celebrating Derby’s rich brewing heritage.

Taking place from Wednesday 13 November to Saturday 16 November, the festival promises to be a highlight in the city’s calendar, bringing together over 130 real ales, alongside a selection of ciders, world beers and craft keg.

Set within the historic surroundings of the Museum of Making, housed on the site of the world’s first modern factory, the festival will offer a unique atmosphere to enjoy ales from some of the best breweries around the UK.

The event will be held on the ground floor of the Museum of Making, with additional seating available in a marquee installed for the occasion. A range of food will be provided by the Museum’s River Kitchen.

The Derby CAMRA Heritage Beer Festival is anticipated to become an annual event, marking the return of a beer festival to Derby after a four-year hiatus. This event will be a celebration of real ale and of Derby’s historical significance in the brewing industry, making it one of a handful of beer festivals in the country to be held in such a significant heritage setting.

Heather Knibbs, Publicity Officer for Derby CAMRA Beer Festival Committee, said: “Derby CAMRA is very excited to bring our beer festival back to life after a four-year hiatus. For decades we have showcased the best of British breweries and we are ready to do so again this November. We are very grateful to the team at the Museum of Making for this opportunity, they love the Derby real ale scene almost as much as we do, and we believe this new partnership will create a beer festival that truly celebrates the rich heritage of our fantastic city.”

Dr Alex Rock, Director of Commercial and Operations at Derby Museums, said: “The Museum of Making celebrates the making heritage of Derby and Derbyshire, and key to this heritage is beer. On Museum Square, outside Derby Museum and Art Gallery, is a statue to Michael Thomas Bass, the brewing magnate who financed the build of the Museum and Art Gallery. Beer flows through the DNA of the city – Derby is the best city in England to drink real ale, and we’re proud to be working in partnership with CAMRA to celebrate the heritage of beer and brewing, and the great culture of beer our city offers today.”

Tickets for the Derby CAMRA Heritage Beer Festival will go on sale in September, with high demand expected. For more information, please visit:

https://derbymuseums.org/event/derby-camra-heritage-beer-festival/.