The organisers behind Norwich's popular City of Ale event will be taking their success story to Westminster after being invited to speak to an influential group of MPs.
In 2014, 43 Norwich pubs and 40 local breweries are gearing up for the biggest Norwich City of Ale festival yet. With funding from Norwich BID, the festival is being promoted to real ale lovers across the land with advertisements in 21 regional and national CAMRA publications with a combined circulation of over 345,000.
And while news of the festival is reaching beer lovers nationwide, it is also being heard in high places. In June, organisers have been invited to attend a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group where they will present the genesis, execution and development of the event and the impact achieved for Norwich.
'The fame of this great festival has spread far and wide,' said Robert Humphreys, honorary secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, 'and members of our group are keen to hear direct from those involved just how it works to the benefit of the city, its pubs and its beers.
'We are delighted that the leaders of the project have generously agreed to tell us their story.'
City of Ale co-chairmen Dawn Leeder and Phil Cutter have been invited to attend along with Stefan Gurney, executive director of Norwich BID, Nick Bond, head of Visit Norwich and David Powles, digital editor of the Evening News and Eastern Daily Press.
Together they will present the Norwich success story to the group, one of the largest at Westminster.
Ms Leeder said: 'We are honoured to receive this invitation and we look forward to meeting with the group in June. It's a fantastic opportunity to promote the fine city of Norwich, with its wonderful pub and brewing heritage, to a most influential audience,'
This year's City of Ale event takes place from May 22 to June 1.
More information is available at http://cityofale.org.uk/2014/
Do you have a story about a pub? Contact reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk
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