Getting your first drink

In order to buy a drink at the festival you will have to purchase a glass and a beer card - no cash is accepted over the beer or cider bars. 
Just follow these pointers and you won't go wrong:

  1. On entering the festival purchase a glass and some beer cards.
    You can get a full refund on your glass if you return it (unbroken) before the close of the festival.
    Each beer card is worth £10 in 10p units. You can get a refund on any unused units on your beer cards.
  2. Pick up a copy of the programme which contains a beer list for the festival. Not every beer will be available all the time, some may not be ready for serving and some may have been and gone already.
  3. Move to the bar. The beers are arranged alphabetically by brewery, A-Z, at the start of the week, but as restocking takes place through the week this gradually breaks down.
  4. Each beer that is ready for drinking has a card displayed showing the brewery name, beer name, alcoholic strength and price. Ask for your beer, hand over your beer card.  - the bar staff will cross off an appropriate number of 10p units. There's your first pint!

And don't forget:

  • You can purchase more beer cards during your visit, not just when you arrive. Get them from the Belgian Bar or the products stand.
  • You can get a refund on unused tokens at the end of each session or you can place them in the charity box.
  • You can get a full refund on the price of your glass if you return it (unbroken) before you leave.
  • Vote for your beer or cider of the festival. There will be voting forms available from the bars.