Town Invites People to Sample the Shrewsbury Ale Trail

Pubs and bars in Shrewsbury will roll out a special welcome to promote the best of Shropshire beer when they take part in the Shrewsbury Ale Trail.

Beer enthusiasts and others keen to learn can sample a range of tastes and enjoy the town’s hospitality when the Shrewsbury Real Ale Trail event runs from Friday 17 June to Sunday 26 June. It has been organised alongside the Shrewsbury Food Festival taking place at Quarry Park on 25-26 June to encourage people to explore what the town has to offer across its diverse range of venues.

Tickets cost £7 with participants given an entry trail form and a half pint glass which they can use for a taster of each pub’s designated ‘Ale Trail’ beer. They can get their form stamped, rate the beers, vote for the best one and also receive a free bottle of Hobsons beer when they visit at least ten pubs.

Beth Heath, Chief Executive of Shrewsbury Food Festival and Shrewsbury Ale Trail Founder, said: “The Festival attracts so many people and we want them to experience how much Shrewsbury has to offer as a food and drink destination. Interest in real ale is growing, and our focus is on local brewers so this is a chance for people to try out Shropshire’s finest and call in to pubs that may be new to them too.

Kirsten Henly, Executive Director Shrewsbury BID, said: “We raise our glasses to this initiative because it benefits local businesses and teams up a variety of venues working together to showcase Shrewsbury. The trail is designed to encourage people to come into town a number of times and make the most of the wonderful range of venues and their hospitality.

“We want events’ visitors to explore the town, to enjoy the vibrant mix of food and drink retailers and independent businesses and find out for themselves what makes Shrewsbury different.”

Shrewsbury BID has produced a video and postcard promoting events to raise the town’s spring and summer profile. It also joined up with a number of organisations to help Shrewsbury town centre gain Purple Flag accreditation for its safe evening and night-time economy.

There will be a maximum of 1000 tickets sold with 200 going online at www.shrewsburyfoodfestival.co.uk and the rest will be available at participating venues. Overall sales will be managed by The Armoury at Victoria Quay, one of the pubs taking part.