Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival toasts 21st year

Cove Burgh Hall was packed with more than 400 revellers on Saturday, September 28 for the annual Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival.

The event, which is in its 21st year, was almost a complete sell out with only a few dribbles left by the end of the day.

Visitors were offered a variety of ales and ciders - including four Scottish ciders - and live music made the festival a blast.

Cove Burgh Hall was packed with visitors to celebrate the event's 21st anniversary (Image: Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival) The event was only left with a few dribbles at the end thanks to the 400 visitors (Image: Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival) The festival has become one of the Rosneath Peninsula’s unmissable annual favourites, and attracts visitors from far and wide, including many who make the journey over from Inverclyde on the ferry to Kilcreggan Pier.

A smattering of rain early in the afternoon dried up quickly, eventually giving way to sun.

The sunshine even appeared for a few hours on the day (Image: Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival)

The hall was packed inside and out, with various stalls and food outlets outside also doing a roaring trade.

There were plenty of stalls outside with a variety of food and drink on offer (Image: Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival)

Organiser Dave Arnold said: “What a great day and the weather gods were reasonably good to us again.

“We had almost a complete sell out with approximately 400 people. All the beers and ciders were completely sold-out bar a few dribbles.

“One of our sponsors and ale suppliers 'No Limits' brought an additional 100 litres and still ran out about an hour before we closed.

“Four live musical acts throughout the day, firstly the 'Ancient Imps', three local guys, then Joe Quinn followed by Robert Ryan and finally to finish a four-piece Glasgow band Broho.

“A big thanks to all our sponsors especially McIntyre Hire from Garelochhead.

“Our beer supplier let us down by telling us on Tuesday, as it was a Glasgow postcode, it would be at least 48 hours before they could deliver! This would have been too late to get the beers tapped, spiled and settled.

"Steve, owner of McIntyre Hire, offered to hire a van and go down to collect the casks all at no cost to us. And he also offered to return the casks, again at no cost to us.”

No Limits Brewing branded the event a huge success (Image: Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival) No Limits Brewing from Dumbarton said: "Amazing location! Amazing Hosts! Amazing Community! Please add this festival to your must do list.

“This is one of those festivals run completely by community volunteers to raise funds for the community owned Burgh Hall.

“You'll have a fantastic day out. Get this in your calendar for next year."

The event celebrated its 21st anniversary on Saturday, September 28 (Image: Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival)

The festival is one of Cove Burgh Hall’s key annual fund-raising events. The hall is a charity run by volunteers to maintain the facility at the heart of the community.

The committee runs various events during the year to raise money to keep the building in good repair, which allows dozens of local groups, charities, organisations and businesses to come together there throughout the year.

A donation will also be made to the local food bank.

Cove Burgh Hall will be holding an open day from 1-3pm on Sunday, October 6, including stalls and displays from some of the hall’s user groups, while an AGM will follow at 3pm.