Socially-distanced beer festival at Printworks cancelled

One of the only London beer festivals scheduled to take place this summer has been cancelled days after it was announced due to coronavirus fears.

Last week (17 August), we reported that London nightlife polestar Printworks was to become the backdrop for the city’s “first socially distanced beer festival” over the August bank holiday weekend.

Around 50 craft brewers were planning to set up stands at the event, including Verdant, Gypsy Hill, Cloudwater, Tiny Rebel, Magic Rock, Duration, and DEYA.

The organisers made efforts to reassure beer fans that the event would adhere to the government’s social distancing rules for hospitality businesses. Far fewer brewers would exhibit than at BrewLDN’s flagship event in February, and the entire day was to be help at Printworks’ outdoor spaces. Attendees were also asked to book a table for up to six people, with four-hour time slots assigned for each group.

However, just over a week later, the beer festival has been scrapped due to fears that the measures being put in place would “compromise the audiences’ experience”.

Anyone who already bought a ticket to the event will be able to get a full refund.

“It is with great sadness, that in the face of the ever-changing challenges created by Covid-19, the difficult decision has been made to cancel BREW//LDN Summer Sessions,” said a statement from the organisers.

“We’ve received an overwhelming level of support from those who booked tickets, partners, contractors and of course Printworks, and can’t apologise enough for the short notice.

“Difficulties in respecting the necessary government guidelines meant we could not continue without compromising the audiences’ experience – this is a difficult decision and not one that has been taken lightly.

“Despite this, we’ll continue to work on delivering great beer experiences in other ways between now and our flagship event in February 2021, but for now BREW//LDN Summer Sessions will have to wait until 2021…”