Forum Topic

Beer, Blues, Comedy and Jazz in Walpole Park.

These excellent festivals start in Walpole Park in barely a fortnight's time. I wonder if all the construction and refurbishment work in the park will be completed before the start of festivities? And will the usual excellent and varied selection of "street food" stalls be available again this year?

Gerry Tan ● 4249d16 Comments

We didn't get to go to this year's beer festival in the end.  How was it this year?

Gerry Tan ● 4230d

Penny, yes the food stalls are all beyond the entrance gate but the food is certainly not worth going in for.  It's average 'festival food'.

Andy Vaughan ● 4231d

Do you have to pay to get into the area where the food stalls are Andy?

Penny Crocker ● 4231d

There is food Gerry.  They had the same pie stall as they have the last few years.  There's also a hog roast, burgers etc.  There's also a curry stand and I had that.  Very nice too but festival prices.Obviously the beer is great.  I managed to try about 15 different ones (in halves) but after the 10th, to be honest, I stopped reading the programme and went for the one with the best name.Interesting that Fullers only had 2 beers on given they're local.  Greene King had several and even the Aeronaut in Acton had about 5.The weather, as always, makes or breaks these events and it was glorious.  Fingers crossed it stays like this for the rest of the festivals.They need to mow the bloody grass though!

Andy Vaughan ● 4232d

Are there any food stalls this year? What's the food like? Are the food outlets part of the festivals? What's the entrance charge for food outlets please?

Gerry Tan ● 4232d

Don't go drinking it all you lot - I can't make it until Friday afternoon!  :-)

Tony Colliver ● 4232d

All the drink in one tent this year. I think someone say the bar was 100 metres long!They open at noon, which I think is earlier than previous years. A good idea to catch some lunchtime trade.There was already a good crowd when I arrived at 1pm.In the past I think it opened at 2pm and was pretty empty for most of the afternoon.

Mark Vale ● 4232d

...although you may have to wait until Friday afternoon ;)

Andy Vaughan ● 4233d

Same here.  Will keep you posted too.. :)

Daniele Humphreys ● 4233d

I'm going tonight Gerry so will let you know.  Perfect weather for it :)

Andy Vaughan ● 4233d

What's the Beer Festival like this year?

Gerry Tan ● 4233d

This will be my 6th or 7th year at the Ealing beer festival and despite not being able to drink much this year, I am very much looking forward to it.  Will have a few small snifters to see me through though :)  Weather looking amazing for the Thursday too!

Daniele Humphreys ● 4234d

I can't remember if we had to pay to have the food during the various festvals in Walpole Park. But I do recall the food was plentiful and delicious, as were the umpteen beers.Yesterday I saw then erecting various tents and marquees and setting up the portable lavatories. The park was a hive of activity with builders and gardeners working furiously. I hope we get good weather for the forthcoming festivities.

Gerry Tan ● 4238d

Do you still have to pay to get in to buy the food though?

Penny Crocker ● 4249d

Yes, looking forward to the Walpole Festivals again this year, especially the food and refreshments stalls - lasy year there was tasty paella and delicious Thai food available, at extremely reasonable prices and great American style hot dogs with tasty mustards. (Or was it the year before?)  Roll on July!

Gerry Tan ● 4249d

I hope so and I hope that it will be easy to buy drinks that are non-alcoholic.  It can be a long wait in a beer tent for a glass of water!  I remember one year that there was a great juice bar.It is worth taking your own water of course.  I went to a festival last year where you could fill your own water bottle easily - and it was free - but there was a heavy entry fee - and the Ealing Festivals don't have a high entrance fee. It was nice to feel that you didn't have to queue for a drink if you were thirsty.

Philippa Bond ● 4249d