More than 2,000 revellers from across Cornwall and beyond descended on St Austell Brewery for its popular Celtic Beer Festival.  

The day-long festival sees the brewery’s Victorian cellars transformed into a packed venue, with five bars featuring more than 100 beers and complete with live music. 

The shindig raised an impressive £20,000 for charity – an increase of more than 50 per cent in fundraising efforts compared to the last festival, which took place before the pandemic in 2019. 

The thirst for endless beer and a good singalong with the Fisherman’s Friends was still top priority for those in attendance.  

All profits from ticket sales went to the St Austell Brewery Charitable Trust, which supports local charities and worthy causes across the South West and has raised a landmark £1 million since it was established in 2003. 

While the annual Celtic Beer Festival remains the trust’s flagship fundraising activity, previous events have included a trek to the top of  Mount Kilimanjaro, raffles, ale tastings and quizzes. 

Brewing director Georgina Young said: “The 22nd Celtic Beer Festival surpassed all our expectations. The array of 112 different beers from us and our other brewing friends across the country were really well received.  

“I’m very proud of our brewing teams in St Austell and at Hare Brewery – our second production site in Warmley – who created a wide spread of beers including a cherry Rauchbier, a mango weizen, a mild and a wee heavy! All were excellent.”