I would like to apologise to those people whom we turned away from Devizes Beer Festival on Saturday evening.

This was not a decision we took lightly.

We had been expecting about ten per cent more visitors than last year and so arranged for a corresponding increase in the beer order.

In the event, we had about 20 per cent more visitors. When it became apparent that we had enough beer for those who were already on the site and for advance ticket holders who had not yet arrived, but no more, we decided to close the doors to cash sales.

Had we not done this, it would have been unfair to those who were already at the festival.

Planning is already under way for the fifth Devizes Beer Festival on July 5, 2003. If the Gazette and the Devizes News match the excellent level of support they gave us this year, then people will have plenty of notice of the festival and where they can get advance tickets.

We have to sell the beer on one day and pressures on both price and space mean that we cannot build in too much contingency.

If you want to guarantee entry next year, then I urge you to buy a ticket in advance.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our customers, volunteer helpers, partners, suppliers and sponsors for helping to make the Devizes Beer Festival such a success. See you next year,

Don Jones

Devizes CAMRA