BLACKBURN BEER FESTIVAL IS BACK! THWAITES RAISE A GLASS TO SUPPORT LOCAL YOUTH ZONE

Last year over 1,900 people joined the festival, which took place at Blackburn Rugby Club raising over £20,000 for the Blackburn Youth Zone.

And this year’s event is set to be even bigger. Sponsored by award-winning Northern brewer Daniel Thwaites, accountancy firm PM+M and Farleys Solicitors, the festival is set to showcase over 60 real ales from across the Northwest and beyond, plus an eclectic selection of ciders and lagers.

Peter Little from Blackburn Youth Zone said: “We are proud to be the beneficiaries of the beer festival once again. It’s a great weekend that brings together so many businesses and people from across our community which makes a substantial contribution to our charity. The money raised during the festival will be spent improving the prospects and opportunities for young people in this area. Thanks to Thwaites and the other sponsors for making the event possible.”

Blackburn-based Thwaites will be offering festival goers the opportunity to sample a variety of ales, from classics including Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber to tipples from the brewer’s award winning craft Signature range.

Lee Williams, head of marketing at Thwaites, said: “This is a perfect festival for Thwaites and all the local brewers of East Lancashire and the Ribble Valley to really show off the diversity of beers available in the region. Last year’s event was a huge success thanks to a number of local businesses who all came together to make it happen and helped raise a fantastic amount of money for a worthy local cause. We’re certain this year’s event will be a huge success.”

The Blackburn Beer Festival will take place at Blackburn Rugby Club from Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd May. Tickets cost £5 each and will be on sale from the end of March.

All of the proceeds will go to the Blackburn Youth Zone which supports young people in the town, offering them a safe and exciting environment to spend their spare time.

Local businesses can also get involved by sponsoring a barrel of beer. To register you interest in sponsorship opportunities or tickets visit www.blackburnbeerfestival.com

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For more information on Blackburn Youth Zone please contact Julia Wright: 01254 292 000 julia.wright@blackburnyz.org

For more information on Thwaites please contact Claire Grew: 0113 2372825, mob 07786 091987, cgrew@goodrelationsregional.co.uk

About Blackburn Youth Zone

Blackburn Youth Zone opened to young people in June 2012, having been in the ‘making’ for over five years. The Zone now has more than 3,000 members aged 8-18 offering them a safe and exciting environment in which to spend their spare time.

Young people are at the heart of the Zone – everything from the design of the building to the projects, programmes and activities on offer, right through to the Zone’s staff, have been chosen in partnership with our young people. We listen to their opinions and giving them a voice in issues that affect them.

As a registered charity, we rely upon funding from outside sources and work in partnership with the Council, local businesses and other bodies to ensure that we remain at the heart of the town and continue to meet and recognise the needs of the young people of Blackburn with Darwen.

About Daniel Thwaites

Daniel Thwaites is the North of England’s major independent family brewer. Founded in 1807, Thwaites has a rich heritage providing welcoming hospitality and award-winning beers that are brewed with skill and care from the highest quality ingredients.

Thwaites owns an estate of over 300 pubs, a small but growing group of characterful coaching inns and six four-star full service regional hotels and spas, which trade under the Shire Hotels banner.

In addition, Thwaites supplies a full range of drinks to many independently owned pubs, clubs and restaurants in the North of England and beyond and a wide range of bottled beers to most major supermarkets.

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