The Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival’s move to Trent Bridge has unlocked its romanticism, according to a Head Brewer at one of the city’s most celebrated breweries.

Nottingham CAMRA’s flagship event made its bow at the home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in 2021, with the festival set to return on a grander scale from Wednesday 12 to Saturday 15 October.

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Dom Flynn, Head Brewer at nearby Navigation Brewery, felt that the venue immediately proved a perfect fit.

“Brewing is romantic, and cricket is too – that’s what we thrive upon, engaging with that romance within people,” he said.

“I can remember being at the beer festival last year during the first afternoon, and I just stood back and listened to the hum of thousands of people enjoying themselves. It just reminded me of what we’d all missed over the couple of previous years.

“To be honest, I never realised how beautiful Trent Bridge was until I took a moment to sit in the stands last year and take it in.

“It’s completely unique and so characterful. It looks stunning, and I really like the way the festival site creates warrens and nooks and crannies to explore.

“To be able to hold a beer festival at such an iconic venue is so special.”

The arrival of the festival also allows for a little experimentation from creators and consumers alike.

Over 1,000 drinks are set to be on offer across the event, and Flynn is keen to push his own brewing boundaries.

“Pale ales will always out-sell everything, they’re the base of the cake if you like, but the cherries on top are the more experimental drinks you can bring with you,” he explained.

“For example, we know that mild is a fantastic style of beer, but that it’s maybe got a bit of a reputation as an old man’s drink.

“We love it though, and we thought it needed to be brought back to life, so we brought a chocolate caramel mild called Elephant Gun to the festival last year, and it developed its own little following.

“We might not be able to give a drink like that a try in our own pubs, and we certainly wouldn’t get the same volume of instant feedback.

“The festival is a great opportunity for people to try things that are a little out of their comfort zones. You can really open people’s eyes to a whole load of other tastes.”

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The drinks, however, are not the sole stars of the show; the brewers behind the beers receive their fair share of attention.

With hospitality packages at this year’s festival including ‘Meet the Brewer’ Q&A sessions, Flynn is only too happy to lift the lid on some of his secrets.

“I’m normally really busy in the brewery, so it’s nice to be able to get out and meet the customers,” said the Navigation supremo, who will take part in Q&A sessions across the weekend.

“Your flagship beers almost become your star strikers – you’ll see people walking around with t-shirts and caps on showing off their love for a particular beer.

“And people get really intrigued by the brewing process, so it’s only natural that they want to speak to the people producing it.

“Sometimes, I even get asked to write notes in birthday cards or write messages on pump clips, and that does take a bit of getting used to!”

As a thoroughly modern beer festival, this year’s celebrations will feature a fine supporting cast of ciders, perries, gins and food offerings.

For Flynn, it all contributes to an inimitable communal atmosphere.

“Nottingham CAMRA have realised that times are changing, so they’re moving with the times and people’s tastes to make sure it’s a proper day out.

“You’ll find plenty of people at the festival who say ‘I don’t really like beer, but I like the atmosphere and the music’.

“It’s an event which is more than the sum of its parts – and it reminds you why pubs are so important.

“Yes, you can build your own bar in your back garden, but you can’t replicate that sense of community or that buzz you get in a pub.

“At the beer festival, you see that on a bigger scale, and that’s why it’s become such a landmark date in the Nottingham calendar.”

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