City Beerfest hits the spot

The sixth annual City Beerfest took place in the Guildhall Yard on Thursday 5 July, with glorious sunshine pouring down on the crowds of visitors who were enjoying over 50 different beers served up by fifteen of the Brewers' Company's member breweries. This was accompanied by fantastic music performed by a host of bands and performers who have benefited from support from the City Music Foundation (CMF).

The City Beerfest was proud to be a part of the City of London's Women Work and Power programme, featuring over 70 events celebrating the centenary of suffrage, when some women were given the right to vote for the very first time in the UK.  In the middle ages many households brewed their own beer, and this was traditionally done by women. The Brewers’ Company has a rare, ancient book showing that back in the 1420s, a third of its members were women.  Only in later centuries did their involvement in the industry decline. The earlier involvement of women in brewing was quietly forgotten, but modern historical research has helped uncover this forgotten history.

We are enormously grateful to all of our members who took part: Charles Wells, Belhaven Brewery, Budweiser Budvar, Camerons, Daleside, Dark Star, Fullers, Harvey's Brewery, Hook Norton Brewery, McMullen's, Meantime, Menabrea & Heverlee, Shepherd Neame, Sleeman and Theakstons. They generously provided all of the beer and bar staff free of charge, so that all funds raised can go to the Lord Mayor's Appeal - this year supporting Place2Be, OnSide Youth Zones and Samaritans - and the CMF.