Robin Hood Beer & Cider Festival at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

We took a trip to the preview of the Robin Hood Beer and Cider festival to experience this much anticipated annual event as never before. Regulars to the festival will know it usually takes place at Nottingham Castle, but while they undergo their incredible £13.9m Heritage Lottery Funded redevelopment, it was time for the event to find a new home. We’ll admit that, like many attendees, we had grown quite attached to castle as the host of the festival and weren’t sure what to expect from the new Nottingham Motorpoint Arena venue. We're pleased to report we needn’t have worried - there may be a new venue, but it’s still the same great festival, and in fact, there were a few advantages to the new location we hadn’t anticipated.

There was a noticeable atmosphere of curiosity as we entered, with everyone keen to investigate their new surroundings. The staff and volunteers were friendly and efficient as we handed over our tickets and followed the path round to collect our commemorative glasses before entering the main arena space. It was a touch surreal to see the arena packed with bars, like a larger scale version of the main marquee we’re accustomed to at the castle.

Most intriguingly, there was no stage set up as we’re used to seeing when the ice is covered for an event. In its place, the building was opened up to reveal the Backstage Beer Garden. The views may not be quite as spectacular as those we’ve been spoilt with in previous years, but with a brilliant live band on the stage, the smell of delicious food from the different vendors and plenty of picnic table style seating, there was most definitely a festival atmosphere developing.

Seating was always hard to come by at the castle, so a major plus of the new venue is there’ll always be a seat when you need it in the main arena, offering a bird's-eye view of the bars below - just be careful on the stairs after a drink or two! In many respects, the venue is much better able to accommodate large numbers of people so provides an overall more comfortable experience, with less time queuing and more time for the important stuff.  

 

Something we found somewhat surprising was the noticeable variation in atmosphere around the different zones of the festival, where we had expected a more homogenous experience from the new venue. Some of the breweries' individual bars were intimate and cosy, others open and lively, while some did their best to keep the natural feel with trees and foliage decorations. Even the two outdoor areas had different vibes, with Bolero Square offering a smaller acoustic stage in favour of more open space, with quirky food stalls and decorated bars centred around a small covered marquee (which will undoubtedly be handy if the weather turns) and looking rather scenic lined with pretty, autumnal trees - while the Backstage Village hosted the main stage and more seating.   

Last, but by no means least, let’s get down to what it’s really all about - the incredible range of beers and ciders, the largest selection of any festival in the world! With over 1000 beers to choose from running the gamut from hoppy pales and delicate fruit beers through to rich porters and stouts, alongside more unusual offerings like smoked beers, saisons, milkshake beers, gose and sours, the trickiest part of the festival is narrowing down the drinks to sample.

This year there’s some extra special brews on offer. Along with showcasing beer from our local breweries and sourcing the best brews from across the country, 11 beers (plus a cider and a mead) have been imported from Maine in the USA, all served from wooden casks that had previously held spirits, creating a distinct flavour profile. A unique treat not to be missed.

With such variety there’s bound to be a brew to suit everyone’s tastes, and for those who prefer grape to grain there’s a variety of wines available and even a dedicated gin bar. Everyone is catered for, with a selection of 29 gluten free beers, while vegans will be pleased to hear there are many beers available which have been brewed without the use of animal-derived finings - just look for the beers marked as ‘unfined’ in the guide.

Nottingham Camra and all the volunteers who make the festival possible have done a fantastic job in managing the transition and re-creating the festival we know and love. To satisfy your curiosity about the new venue, rest assured, it's well worth a visit.