Chappel (nr Colchester) Beer festival 9-14 September 2014

[rip]

Nicowalker1, Kim, G UK & I were talking about this recently.

There is a good one later on this year at Chappel & Wakes Colne (nr Colchester) on September 7-11th (Tues-Sat). It is usually one of the larger festivals with around 300 beers but unusually, it is held in an old goods yard by a quiet station, which makes it the most atmospheric I've been to. Camping is available nearby (opposite the station I believe).

I'm thinking that the Saturday night will be the best because there are still plenty of beers left & it gets so busy on Friday, they have made it available to pre-booked ticket holders only.

Anyone interested?

[Dave Eds]

And down to St Mary's on the Sunday?

[rip]

And down to St Mary's on the Sunday?

I wasn't aware of that. Sounds like a good idea.

[Dave Eds]

cross reffed here for you ripster ( don't think you made it last year as you were training!)

[ShaunM]

I've taken the Friday off to attend this weekend, really looking forward to it! Who else is coming?

[G UK]

Just bumping the thread somewhat.

I'm now off work on Friday so will head down Friday Morning, unfortunately I will need to head home on Saturday as I've got Fire Duty on Sunday

[tigerdog]

I am horribly jealous. My two favorite pastimes: beer (good) and Elans (M100). Not necessarily enjoyed simultaneoulsly. Have a great time, gents!

[ShaunM]

Thanks Tigerdog

Graham, shame you can't make St Mary's, but looking forward to Friday Spoke to Rip and he's going to let me know where and when to meet up. Looking forward to a nice cruising convoy down (Renault Clio Sport-permitting, lol)

[ShaunM]

I shall be bringing:

Stove, Frying Pan, Kettle, Tea and Coffee, Cups

Do we still have paper plates left over from Snetterton?

[G UK]

I've got my plastic ones which I'll chuck in the boot along with some of my other camping stuff.

[rip]

I'll bring some food to eat before we get there. We don't want to start on an empty stomach & stopping off at a take-away will lose beer time.

[nicowalker1]

enjoy it guys!!!

[rip]

Contrary to the forecast, weather favoured us & the rain held off all weekend.
We even met an Elan-owner who was out walking his dog on Saturday morning.

[ShaunM]

Like Iain said, the weather was good to us and it was an awesome weekend at the 24th Chapel Beer Festival. A great atmosphere sitting drinking in open railway carriages and trying to avoid tripping over railway lines when pissed.

Tried the following beers (plus a few I forgot to write down on the friday):

Cassels Full (Cider)
Cassels Stock (Cider)
Swallowfield Dabinet
Anglo Dutch Kletswater
Bartrams Stingo
Brentwood Dodo (favourite)
Caledonian Deuchars IPA
Exmoor Exmoor Ale
Frog Island Best Bitter
Frog Island Natterjack
Ha'Penny Gog Magag Golden Ale
Hopdeamon Golden Braid (favourite)
Mighty Oak Captain Bob (favourite)
Nethergare Orange Wheat
Quantock Quantock Ale
Red Fox Red Fox Three
Wadworth Horizon
Wibblers Hoppy Helper
Williams Bros Harvest Sun

On the Sunday, we went to St Mary's Classic Car Show, again excellent weather, a good mix of cars and good to catch up with the other LECers, so much so that I didn't leave for Norwich until about 9pm...

[rip]

Shaun & Graham liked this as much as I did last year.
For those who hav never heard of it, it is one of the larger festivals (c300 beers) held at a railway preservation site. It is the only festival I have been to where you can sit in soft, springy railway carriages drinking your beer!

They have a field for free camping so the facilities are rather limited but there are ways around this

Friday has proven so popular with the locals that they have again limited this to ticket holders only. Prices for these have not been published yet but I believe they were something like £8-£10 last year including souvenir glass.

Edit: £6 entry for Friday evening.

My way around the lack of camping facilities is to go swimming on Saturday. I'm originally from Colchester so know where the pool is!

St Mary's car show in Bishops Stortford is on Sunday 11th too. A nice way to end the weekend?

Anyone can just turn up on Saturday but I need to know who wants a ticket for Friday:

1) ShaunM
2) Miss_Elan
3) G UK
4) rip

[Stef]

1) ShaunM
2) Miss_Elan
3) G UK
4) rip
5) Stef

Belatedly I'm putting myself on the official list. Keep it proper n stuff

Where is everyone else? Thought it would prove more popular

[ShaunM]

Hi Guys,

I'm going to take a leisurely drive down the A140, so will meet you there at Chapel.

This should mean your journey is easier, I'm guessing you'll take the M11 to Bishop's Stortford, then A120 to come across - which saves you getting stuck behind the lorries doing their friday trip to Felixstowe

What time are you guys expecting to arrive? I've looked at the website and you can use the night time ticket for entry during the day (it starts at 11am so the earlier the better!!!! ).

LMAO at the camping rules, rit bi a phamer- http://www.essex-camra.org.uk/chappel/campingrules.pdf

Looking forward to and

Last year was excellentm and there's 415 beers to samplethis year. A egg cup of each maybe???

[Stef]

Great common sense rules! No BBQ's or fire though

Does anyone have a windbreak they can bring? May be useful. Was also going to ask for wood/logs but no point now due to ze rulez

Question to ask you all too... How hot do you like your chilli?

[ShaunM]

Don't have a wind break, but a great idea - anyone got one??? If not I might pop to Asda and see if they have any, there was a really good camping one they had that packed down really small, but was huge when you got it out...4 metres I think

I shall bringing:

Gas for Stef's Stove
Kettle
Saucepan
Frying Pan
Beef Burgers
Rolls
Bacon
Eggs
Tomato Ketchup (red sauce to the rest of us)
Milk (to infuse with the tea bag in the cup before adding the hot water )
Pasta
Rice
Plates & Cups
Cutlery

Can someone bring Sugar (if you want it in your tea) and a few Tea Bags (if you want it in your sugar) please?

Iain, you'll be glad to know, I'm not going to bring any vodka, but am saving it for Stef's Halloween Party

See you all soon

[Stef]

Lists again eh?...

Anyway, how hot do you like chilli? Or would you like to gamble with Stef strength?