A small pub in Methlick, Aberdeenshire, is showing its commitment to selling quality real ales by hosting its first beer festival at Easter this year.Luckily for Kingscliff, its neighbours are the owners of Ardo Ales, the leading distributors of Scottish real ales in the region. Together they hope to launch what will become an annual - or even biannual event - at the growing Methlick venue.
Kingscliff Sporting Lodge is fairly unique as a pub, also having its own activity centre on its 60-acre site. For the weekend of the festival – March 21st to 23rd – all manner of entertainment will be available for visitors of all ages, making this a beer festival for all the family.
While the Scottish ales organised by Ardo will no doubt take centre stage for the serious beer buffs, a programme of live music is also planned, as well as indoor entertainment for the children, featuring bouncy castles, a climbing wall and more, as well as Easter egg hunts in the grounds.
The event will open on Easter Friday at 4pm with featured beers from local brewery Brewdog of Fraserburgh, champion brewers Harvieston, Fyne Ales, Strathaven, Stewart and Valhalla.
Speaking about the event, local CAMRA representative Richard Jones said: ‘I am delighted to see the commitment by a local supplier and an Aberdeenshire pub to the promotion of real ale. This will add considerable support to our aim of promoting micro breweries and their beers in the North East of Scotland.’
Mark and Heather Colley-Davies have been in business now as Ardo Ales for six years. They have a passion for real ales and have been delighted to see sales of real ales grow across the region. Speaking about Kingscliff, Mark said: ‘We encouraged Kingscliff to start stocking real ales about 3 years ago now and since then, thanks to Doug Lamont’s careful stewardship of the beer, the pub has seen sales grow significantly. We also shoot clays at Kingscliff as a family, plus its our local, so we are delighted to work with Kingscliff on this exciting new event.’
Ardo and Kingscliff also have a history of working together at outside events, like The Portsoy Boat Festival, where Ardo take the beers and Kingscliff offers the activities.
Each year Kingscliff welcomes more and more visitors from outside the UK and abroad, and owners Chris and Louisa Harry Thomas feel sure this event will become a regular fixture in the tourist calendar. Louisa says: ‘We have always tried to feature quality Scottish food in our pub – as well as quality Scottish beers. We are accredited by Eat Scotland and feature in the Good Beer Guide. This festival will hopefully be a great step forward for us, particularly as we will be launching a new restaurant and accommodation here later in the year.’
If you are interested in playing live at the event please call Louisa Harry Thomas on +44 (0)1651 806375.
The final programme of events will appear on the website http://www.kingscliff.co.uk/ nearer the time. Minibus transport will also be available by arrangement for groups.
