One of the highlights of the Fleet calendar returns once again on Sat 9th August and for the second year running it will take place at the Harlington Centre In Fleet which is very handily placed in the Town Centre. Fleet Station is a 15 minute walk away and local buses stop very near to the venue but only during the daytime.
The aptly named “Pieces of 8 Beer Fest” as this is the 8th consecutive year the Fleet Lions have organised this Ale Festival, has a pirates theme this year and prizes are on offer for the best outfits on the day, so dress to impress and dont be late for the Pieces of 8.

Advance tickets are selling very well and the Fleet Lions organisers confidently expect a record attendance this year, building on the outstanding success of the previous year which was their first year at the Harlington Centre. The facilities at the Harlington Centre both indoors and outdoors are second to none in the Fleet area and everything is in place to make this the best and most successful Fleet Lions Ale Festival so far.

Ticket prices per session are £7 in advance on the Fleet Lions website or £8 on the door subject to availability, these prices include a very special commemorative glass produced by local Fleet designer Andy Johnson.

The official sponsors are the Hammerpot brewery from Sussex and thanks also go to Chris Gill of the Ascot Ales brewery who has been particularly helpful and supportive.
The Fleet Lions Ale Festival this year will be raising money for the charity “Sailability”  which is a partnership between Frensham Pond Sailing Club and Farnham & District Sports Association for the Disabled. This money will provide opportunities, for people of all ages with disabilities and illnesses, to experience and enjoy sailing in a very supportive and safe environment.

There are two sessions at the Fleet Lions Ale Festival, the afternoon session is from 11 till 3 and the evening session is from 5.50 till 9.30. As always drinking and behaving responsibly, especially when customers leave this town center venue, are critical factors which will be used to judge the overall success of this Ale Festival.

Entertainment will be provided by the Stomping Nomads in the afternoon who will be playing an eclectic mix of blues, country, skiffle and bluegrass music. In the evening it will be Fleet Booze Hound Blues Band providing the entertainment. There will be a barbecue in the afternoon and evening and all of the meat will be supplied by Clarks the Butchers from Fleet and fresh rolls baked on the premises were obtained from the local Morrisons.

There are 38 different real ales available this year from 15 different breweries including ales from some of the very best local micro breweries in the area e.g. Andwell, Binghams, Sherfield Village, Siren Craft, Longdog, Ascot, Wild Weather, Windsor & Eton and Mash. In addition Dark Star, Loddon, Dorking, Hammerpot and Langhams have supplied a range of their ales.   The strongest ales available are Nelson’s Blood (6% abv) brewed by the Nelson brewery from Chatham (Kent) and Sound Wave (5.5% abv) brewed by the Siren Craft brewery from Finchampstead (Berks). Locally produced ciders will also be available.

All six of the Monster Raving Loony Party’s range of Co-ALE-ition ales,  brewed by award winning local micro breweries, will be on sale together for the first ever time including Longdog’s ” Winning Co-ALE-ition ” ale which was sold in the Strangers Bar at the Houses of Parliament last month . Monster Mash real ale in a bottle will also be available to take away as a souvenir for just £2 per bottle. Alan Hope (Leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party) will be officially opening both the afternoon and evening sessions and will be bringing his own brand of fun and humour to this event.