We won't back historic beer festival

Mar 2 2009 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

TIGHT fisted council bosses have called last orders on helping out one of Paisley’s biggest tourist attractions.

Paisley Beer Festival is the oldest and biggest beer festival in Scotland.

And it regularly attracts thousands of thirsty visitors to the town hall.

It has been a huge success, and has resulted in people from all over Scotland coming to the town since it was launched 22 years ago.

But this year Renfrewshire Council has decided to pull the plug on supporting the historic festival.

This is because it has changed its policy on alcohol events.

The move means organisers are considering taking out a loan to pay for posters and leaflets to advertise the festival.

A spokeswoman for Renfrewshire CAMRA said: “We are really appreciative of the help the council have given the festival over the last few years.

“They have given us a lot of support, not least financially.

“Therefore it is a major blow to be told we’ll not be receiving any help from them at all this year.

“We are very disappointed by this decision.

“We feel that it has been based on unfair and unrealistic reasons.

“The Paisley Beer Festival has been a hugely popular community event for over 20 years.

“People have been coming from all over Scotland giving the town a boost for a few days.

“The festival is not about promoting alcohol or binge-drinking.

“It’s about showcasing real ale.

“And the festival is also about supporting all the small businesses which produce the stuff.

“Real ale drinkers in general are neither binge-drinkers or trouble makers.

“They are just interested in trying out some of the wonderful variety of traditional-type beers Great Britain now produces.

“We just hope we can still attract as many people as in previous years, with our budget now being so limited.”

This year’s festival is set to begin on Wednesday, April 29 and conclude on Saturday, May 2 in Paisley Town Hall.

As always, it is being run completely by volunteers from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

They work year-round to make sure the event runs smoothly.

This year’s event is going to be the 22nd Paisley Beer Festival.

This makes the annual event in the town the oldest in Scotland.

A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: “We provided some support in the past for the Paisley Beer Festival.

“Obviously with the health and social problems caused by alcohol abuse in Renfrewshire, one of the aims of Renfrewshire Council is to promote a ‘healthier Renfrewshire’.

“Now the festival is an established part of the Paisley events calendar we feel that the resources that we have would now be better targeted at helping to attract or develop other events in the town centre.”