THE MAYOR of Hereford has officially opened the city's first ale and cider pub trail which is taking place this weekend.

Mayor Paul Stevens opened the Not Quite Beer on the Wye event with a ceremonial pint at the Beer in Hand pub in Eign Street at midday on Friday (July 23).

The weekend-long trail has been organised by the Hereford branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) in place of its annual Beer on the Wye festival, which has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to Covid-19.

Twelve pubs across Hereford are participating in the event. They are:

  • Barrels, St Owen Street
  • Beer in Hand, Eign Street
  • Black Lion, Bridge Street,
  • Britannia, Cotterell Street
  • House of Cider, Buttermarket
  • Lichfield Vaults, Church Street,
  • Oxford Arms, Widemarsh Street,
  • Vaga Tavern, Vaga Street,
  • Volunteer Inn, Harold Street
  • Wellington, Widemarsh Street
  • Three Elms, Canon Pyon Road
  • Imperial, Widemarsh Street

Coun Stevens said it was a great pleasure to open the trail and praised the collaboration between CAMRA and the city council in producing the leaflets for the event.

He said: "Hospitality desperately needs help and it's fantastic that twelve establishments have got together."

Mark Haslam, from CAMRA, said all the participating pubs will be selling different real ales, and some ciders, in addition to their usual range.

He said: "Hopefully this pub-based Ale & Cider Trail will go some way to make good the disappointment felt by many due to our Beer on the Wye festival being cancelled again this year.

"Not only will it offer both locals and visitors a great opportunity to try different and unusual beers, ciders and perries, but it will give a much-needed boost to our city pubs – who've had a torrid 18 months to contend with during the Covid emergency."

The event is running from today (Friday) until close on Sunday, July 25.