Raise glass at biggest pub in Leeds

David Dixon, Carl Lockwood, Mike Hampshire and Maddie Culling at last years rugby themed Leeds Beer Festival at Pudsey Civic Hall

PUDSEY Civic Hall will once again be transformed into the biggest pub in Leeds when one of the largest beer festivals in the north of England gets underway next month.

There will more than 150 real ales from Yorkshire and beyond on tap at the three-day Leeds Cider, Beer and Perry Festival, which runs from Thursday March 17 to Saturday 19 at the hall at Dawsons Corner, Pudsey.

And there will be some beers harking back to the 19th century at the festival, which is organised by the Leeds branch of the Campaign For Real Ale.

Festival publicity officer Mike Hampshire, said: “It is the 200th anniversary of the Leeds Liverpool Canal and we will be forming part of the year-long celebrations with the Leeds Liverpool Canal Trust.

“They are asking brewers to brew a beer in a style that would have been used 200 years ago. We have been working with some of our brewers to try and get some of those beers on at the festival.

“We are expecting the beers to be sweet and strong. Hops weren’t as widely used in the 19th century so we are looking at various other ingredients like heather. What you will find is that the beers will be a little bit sweeter because they will be more malt-based.”

More than 3,000 people enjoyed last year’s beer festival, which was rugby-themed as Leeds was chosen as a host city for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Mr Hampshire said: “The beer industry in Leeds and across the UK is booming so we are hoping that is going to encourage more people to come to the festival.”

Festival sponsors include Holbeck-based Leeds Brewery, Ridgeside Brewing Co of Meanwood and Sunbeam Ales of Leeds.

For more information, go to www.leedsbeerfestival.co.uk/