Organisers of a popular annual beer festival who have postponed the event say they could see no clear way to go ahead this year.

CAMRA’s East Malling Beer and Cider Festival had been scheduled to be held on Saturday, September 5 in the grounds of the East Malling Research Centre.

But organisers have reluctantly taken the decision to call off the event, due to guidance on gatherings and uncertainty around social distancing measures in the coming months.

Festival organiser Jeff Tucker said: “We are extremely disappointed to have to take this decision, but we could see no clear way to go ahead with the event, even if we were to get the ‘all clear’ to run it in a modified fashion, in line with whatever national CAMRA guidance and government advice applies later in the summer.

"We are already making plans to return in 2021 and hope that we’ll be able to run the festival along the lines that have made it such a popular event over the past 10 years.”

Last year the event celebrated its 10th year.

Ian Clennett, chairman of Maidstone and Mid-Kent CAMRA, added: “Although we fervently hope that restrictions on social gatherings will be lifted in the coming weeks, and that real ale and cider enthusiasts will be able to enjoy meeting up once more, there is currently clear CAMRA guidance regarding the cancellation of festivals and events. Even if this is reviewed within the next few weeks, our committee of volunteers will not have enough time to

organise and put on a radically-different gathering.”

The festival has been rescheduled until Saturday. September 4, 2021.

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