Weekender: New venue for Festival of Beer

Wakefield Festival of Beer returns this weekend in a different venue helping to breathe new life into the former market hall and raising cash to tackle a disease that claims the lives of 12 young men in the UK each week.

The festival began at the Union Street property yesterday evening. The organiser, Wakefield Round Table, is aiming to raise £15k for the Rory Embling Foundation part of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) charity.

In common with victims of CRY, Embling was apparently young and fit with no outwards sign of cardiac disease, but within minutes of complaining of chest pains, while on his way to watch a boxing match, he was dead. He had worked as a trainee paralegal with a local firm.

Mathew Wood, one of the organisers of the Wakefield Festival of Beer, said: “Each year we set an ambitious target.  This year we have three charities, so we had to think big and the Festival of Beer reflects that.

“Cardiac Risk in the Young strikes at the very heart of the community robbing families of young ones before they have achieved their potential.  In the first instance the Festival of Beer will raise awareness.  But we also want to signpost young men to screening and thirdly raise cash for research.

“The Festival of Beer started on Thursday evening with a trade event for local landlords and buyers free to have a leisurely look at new beers and drinks. On Friday afternoon, 20th September, we have our corporate event and then Friday evening and all-day Saturday it is open to the public.

“The old market hall is a central location and a landmark venue.  There is plenty of space for dancing to the bands and our new food offer.”

Wakefield Round Table is also raising money for World Academy in Hemsworth, which provides alternative learning for young people and mental health charity Thinking Forward.

Visit www.wakefieldfestivalofbeer.co.uk for more details.