This year’s Ale & Arty takeover will happen from Thursday 23 – Saturday 25 February, expect another potent mix of top entertainment and the best ales, including some Teesside brewed tipples!
Organised by the Cleveland branch of CAMRA and ran over three days, the festival returns to invite real ale lovers the chance to sample over 80 real ales as well as an array of ciders and perries to whet even the most discerning drinker’s appetite.
Ales from a selection of micro-breweries from across the country will be on offer which offer a range of tastes. From fresh and fruity, or bitter and tangy, to dark and chocolatey with notes of caramel and honey, the choice is extensive.
Home-grown brews include Honeysuckle Smash from Stockton, Amber from Wainstones in Stokesley and Rock Your Socks Off, brewed by Cameron’s in Hartlepool.
To kick off the entertainment, a nod to one of Ireland’s most prolific rock acts will be performing in The Point on the Thursday 23 February. Limehouse Lizzy have racked up an incredible reputation for performing Thin Lizzy’s hits such as Whiskey in the Jar and The Boys are Back in Town. The band have also added a tribute to ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist (and world renowned solo artist) Gary Moore into their show, it doesn’t get closer to the real thing than this. Tickets cost £15 which also includes entry to the evening beer festival.
On the Friday evening, ARC’s popular Catch 22 comedy night will take on an Ale & Arty special. Catch 22 regular Jason Cook will host a brilliant double-headline night starring Adam Rowe and Perrier winning force-of-nature, Phil Nichol. Tickets cost £15 which also includes entry to the evening beer festival.
Once again ARC are handing over the last night of the festival to Stockton’s very own Wild Rover, Mike McGrother for Streams of Whiskey. The blarney-fuelled front man of The Wildcats of Kilkenny will be paying homage to the father of all drinkers, Shane MacGowan, in an unapologetic night of Pogues’ classics taken from their first three albums. Tickets cost £12 which includes entry to the evening beer festival.
Tickets to the beer-only daytime festival between Thursday and Saturday, 11am – 5pm costs just £2 and is free to CAMRA members, and tickets to the evening beer-only festival on Thursday and Friday between 6.30pm-11pm costs £4.50, and £3.50 on the Saturday.
All tickets can be bought by calling ARC’s Box Office on 01642 525199 or by visiting the Ale & Arty section of the website.