The 32nd Derby Summer Festival is getting closer.

This year we’re celebrating a 300th Anniversary, that of Dr Samuel Johnson. He was married in St Werburgh’s church and was perhaps best known for compiling the definitive dictionary - The Dictionary of the English Language.

He was a friend of Bosworth and also a frequent visitor to The Green Man in Ashbourne. An episode of Black Adder celebrated the great man with his dictionary being apparently burnt!

We are fortunate to have a reincarnated Dr Johnson coming to the Opening Night of the festival on Wed 8th July. He will be accompanied by the Mayor, the Osnabruck Beer King – Ferdinand and once again the new ram - Private Derby, the mascot of the Mercian Regiment.

We are also inviting a German Carnival Dance group over to dance in the Market Place and in the festival, another first for the festival and Derby (pictured left: Here's the dancing girls...The Grun Weisse Garde Carnival Dancing Group who will be dancing at the Beer Festival opening on Wed 8th....much more attraractive than the Morris men!).

There is of course the usual selection of great beers, specials, and for the first time an East Anglian section, then also a big range of ciders and continentals.

Entertainment is again high quality including: Limehouse Lizzy, The Wam Bam Band, and Jake and Elwood - Bues Brothers Tribute.

Don’t miss the 32nd!

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

1 One of the biggest, probably the best Beer Festival in the region is 32 this year.

2 The Mayor, the Osnabruck and Derby Beer Kings, the new Derby Ram, and Dr Sam Johnson are all attending.

3 You can join CAMRA at the Fest and receive many benefits including free entry to all sessions of Derby Fest and many other CAMRA festivals.

4 The beer choice is awesome with specially brewed beers, most of our LocALES, a selection of beers from East Anglia, and many unusual continental beers .In addition an award winning selection of ciders, including CAMRA’S 2009 Champion cider Gwatkins Yarlington Mill and the champion perry - Broadoak. Everybody happy?

5 There is a great choice of entertainment every night and lunchtime and entry fees are kept reasonable. On popular nights our entry prices are often 50% cheaper than other music venues in town.

6 Drink in comfort. Unlike many other festivals we are air-conditioned, which keeps the drinkers and the beer in top form!

7 Free entry for oldies, military men and CAMRA members - We try to be helpful in these difficult times.

8 Beer cheers you up!

Contacts

More Festival info from Les 01332 206734. See Summer Festival page for Staff Volunteer form

Stay cool, taste our quality beers in air-conditioned comfort, don’t miss out! See Summer Festival page for Beer List.

Why not stay the weekend in the Beer Capital of The Midlands - ring Derby Tourist Info for accommodation/Beer Weekends - 01332 255883

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Branch Pubs of the Year - The Winners

The Derby CAMRA Branch Pubs Of The Year 2009 are:

City - Royal Standard

Country - Old Oak, Horsley Woodhouse

And by virtue of having the highest overall score the Branch Pub of the Year 2009 is the Old Oak in Horsley Woodhouse and it will now go forward to the Derbyshire competition.

The March Branch Meeting at the Horse & Groom, Derby saw the Branch Pubs of the Year short-listed for the City and Country Pub of the Year Award with one overall Branch Pub of the Year Award from the two winners.

Last year saw the Barley Mow in Kirk Ireton take the overall award and the Babington Arms in Derby the City award and this year's contest was just as keenly fought.

The short-list was chosen by written ballot on the night and advance nominations from those who could't make the meeting.

City pub nominations chosen were:

The three short-listed in each category were visited and marked along National Pub of the Year guidelines. The overall winner of this judging will now go forward to the County Pub of the Year competition where it will stand a chance of entering the Regional and National competitions as well