East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival

Following in the footsteps of the ancient monks who founded them, St Edmundsbury Cathedral today opened its doors to host the East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival.

Beer and Cider Festival Opens at St Edmundsbury Cathedral

The making of beers and wines has a long history in monasteries and Benedictine abbeys such as the one founded in Bury St Edmunds over 1000 years ago – but hosting a Beer Festival is a ‘first’ for an English cathedral.

But welcome and hospitality – key Benedictine values – is at the core of the mission and ministry at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and the opportunity to welcome new visitors as the country emerges from the pandemic led to a new partnership between the Cathedral and the Beer Festival organisers, the West Suffolk and Borders branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

The six-day Festival coincides with the town’s annual Food and Drink Festival and the Bank Holiday Weekend and offers a wide range of entertainment, music, food stalls plus 200 real ales and 40 ciders.

Throughout the Festival, the Cathedral continues to offer daily worship, including a special service ‘Beer and Hymns’ at 5.30 pm on Sunday 29 August on the Cathedral lawn.

Full details of all services can be found on the Cathedral website

Full details of the opening times and events and how to book tickets.