The ever-popular Delapre Abbey beer festival will go ahead in 2013 after Northampton Borough Council stepped in to save it.
Organisers Northants CAMRA pulled the plug on the event last month, due to a lack of resources and fears over insurance claims.
And despite talks with the council, CAMRA confirmed earlier this week that they would definitely not run the festival this year.
However, council leader David Mackintosh, who had pledged to save the event, has announced that the authority will take over the running of the festival this year. It will take place over the weekend of May 30 and June 1.
Councillor Mackintosh (Con, Rectory Farm) said: “I am delighted to say this year’s Delapre Beer Festival will be going ahead. Like many people I was disappointed to hear that the organisers of the beer festival would be cancelling the event.
“Over the last few weeks we have been talking with CAMRA about how to save the event, but in the end the group felt unable to host it. It would have been a real shame to lose the festival, especially when we have a fantastic line up of summer events, so this year we will be running it.
“Carrying on the tradition, this year’s festival will continue as a wonderful event that showcases some of our best local brews. So please put the last weekend in May in your diary.”
In a statement on Northants CAMRA’s website, Phil Greenway, branch chairman and festival organiser, said: “We have decided to take a year off from staging the festival. It has been decided that we will re-group and return stronger for the event in 2014.
“We are grateful for all the supportive messages that have been received during the last few weeks.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with the festival, including volunteering, can call the borough council’s events team on Northampton 837720 or email events@northampton.gov.uk.
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