Knutsford Beer Festival raises £10k to support Toy Appeal and schools

More than 800 people attended the three day celebration of beer in Egerton Place last month.

With more than 40 beers on offer, including 15 craft beers and 25 cask beers, plus lager, gin, wine, cider and alcohol-free drinks, visitors were spoilt for choice.

The festival was a sell-out

The event is run by an enthusiastic team of volunteers.

Chairman Andrew Malloy said: “We are absolutely delighted by the success of our sixth Knutsford Beer Festival.

“To have raised this much money for charity, at a time when businesses are still struggling and the cost of living is so high, is just unbelievable.

“We cannot thank you all enough, our sponsors, volunteers and everyone who came along to drink beer and be merry.

Harriet Henry, Susan Henry and friends from the Tea Room

“It was truly one of our best events to date.”

Money raised at the festival will shared by two local charities, the Toy Appeal and Knutsford Primary Schools Ball Committee who will each receive £5,000.

The Toy Appeal is a local charity that sends toys to underprivileged families for Christmas. This year’s target is approaching 10,000 sacks.

Dee Drake, founder of the Toy Appeal said: “We are so grateful to the beer festival for this incredible donation.

The team from Detaljer

“We were delighted to be chosen as one of their nominated charities but we had no idea they would raise so much money for us.

“We’ve just calculated that this will pay for 200 sacks of toys. That’s 200 children who will be receiving a sack full of Christmas presents on Christmas Day.

“These are children that we know would have nothing to open on Christmas Day if we didn’t send them something.

“It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been doing this or how many children we’ve already helped, the thought of even one child not having presents to open on Christmas Day still upsets me.

The festival has been hailed 'the best ever'

“We are truly grateful to Andrew and all the team for helping us to give even more children a red sack full of toys at Christmas.”

Knutsford Primary Schools Ball Committee represents the PTAs at each of the town’s four state primary schools.

Their donation of £5,000 will help buy items such as outdoor equipment, learning materials and library resources as well as provide extracurricular activities such as hatching chicks and musical performances.

Since the festival was launched in 2014, the total amount raised is £37,040.

Plans are already under way for next year’s event in spring 2023.