One of the country’s largest beer festivals will not take place in the capital and will instead move to Birmingham, its organisers have announced.
The Great British Beer Festival, run by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), had been due to return in 2025 after a hiatus this year because of a lack of availability at the Kensington Olympia.
But instead it will be held 110 miles away in Birmingham’s NEC.
It is the first time the event will not be held in London since 1990 and the first time it has been hosted in the West Midlands since 1983.
Announcing the move, organiser Adam Gent said: “The return of the Great British Beer Festival is a cause for great celebration,”
“I cannot wait to welcome beer and cider lovers from across the UK, and indeed the world, to the NEC Birmingham, where the festival promises to be better than ever before.
“Come and experience our incredible selection of the finest beers, ciders and perries, along with delicious food.”
Organisers said they were forced to cancel 2024’s iteration of the event because the Kensington Olympia venue was not available for the dates they required.
It was also not held in 2020 or 2021 because of the Covid pandemic.
The festival is usually held during the first full week in August and runs from Tuesday to Saturday, with thousands of people attending.
It also sees breweries awarded the industry Champion Beer of Britain award.
Organisers said the ‘champion beer’ winner would be announced on the first day of the 2025 festival, and the beers in each winning category would be available to try.
