The annual beer festival at Oxford Town Hall is to go ahead after the organisers reached an agreement with the city council over running costs.

Oxford CAMRA had decided to cancel its annual festival due to increased costs and falling attendance, but will now work with the council to ensure that a three-day event from Thursday, November 9 to Saturday, November 11 will be a success.

Last month, Oxford CAMRA spokesman Dave Richardson said the festival was being cancelled as the fees for hiring the main hall were due to increase by £3,000 - a 43 per cent increase.

READ AGAIN: Oxford Beer Festival is cancelled 

An agreement has now been reached following talks, but both parties are refusing to reveal the financial details, or whether the proposed increase has been reduced.

Oxford Mail:

The Oxford Beer and Cider Festival attracted up to 3,000 visitors in 2019 and in previous years, before the 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to Covid.

When a two-day festival was reinstated for 2022, attendance slumped to under 2,000 as many older customers stayed away, with the declining number of people working in the city centre being another factor.

Oxford CAMRA spokesman Dave Richardson said: "We are very pleased that Oxford City Council has shown some flexibility, and thanks in particular to councillor Ed Turner for calling interested parties together to work out a solution.

Oxford Mail: Dave Richardson of Oxford CAMRA

“We had started looking at other possible venues including Brookes University and the King’s Centre in Osney Mead, but nowhere compares to the town hall for convenience and atmosphere, as people really appreciate its city centre location and Victorian splendour.

“The festival was first held at the town hall in 1998 and became one of the most successful public events in the city, providing a major economic boost to pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops and other businesses as people poured in every year from near and far.

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"But then came Covid, and this year both the town hall and ourselves faced major increases in costs. We are very pleased to have found a way forward.”

Saturday opening was abandoned in 2022 as attendance had been low on Saturdays for many years, and not enough to cover costs.

The return to a three-day event this year will see some beers held back for Saturday, and the main auditorium may be reconfigured to provide more seating space.

Oxford Mail: A busy beer festival

Ed Turner, cabinet member for finance and asset management, said: "The Oxford Beer and Cider Festival is a terrific event and Oxford Town Hall is its home. 

“We want it back not just this year, but for the long term, and we hope to have found a way to make that possible.

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"Our superb town hall and communications teams will do all they can to promote the festival to maximise the attendance and promote enjoyment of real ale, cider and perry, including products from Oxford’s incredibly dynamic local brewing landscape.”

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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