Hop to it: Belfast Beer & Cider Festival returns to Banana Block
CAMRA’s Belfast Beer & Cider Festival is back at Banana Block from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, with more than 150 beers and ciders, live music and street food.
Clear your diary and polish your glass: the Belfast Beer & Cider Festival is back at Banana Block this week, from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November.
Organised by CAMRA Northern Ireland, the Campaign for Real Ale, and run by its volunteers, the festival showcases the best of craft beer and cider, with more than 150 beers and ciders from across the UK and Ireland. Whether you’re a hop head, a stout fan or a cider devotee, there should be something to tickle your tastebuds.
What to expect
The festival is open from 12 noon to 10.30pm each day. Tickets are £5 on Thursday and Friday and £6 on Saturday, and include entry, a commemorative festival glass and a programme, so you’ll have something to remember it by. CAMRA members pay £3 on showing their membership card.
A tip from the organisers: if your chosen day is sold out, extra tickets may be available on the door, subject to capacity. Earlier in the festival there is usually more of the range on offer, so Thursday is a good bet for the thirstiest. There will be live local music and street food too, so line your stomach and enjoy the atmosphere. Dogs are welcome, and families can come along as well.
A festival with a view of history
Banana Block sits within Portview Trade Centre, the former Strand Spinning Mill, and has welcomed the festival since it returned in 2024. It is a fitting home: a historic linen mill that now makes space for makers, brewers and the people who love what they produce, with Boundary Brewing just across the way.
Banana Block is at Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Road, Belfast BT4 1HE, and is convenient for bus routes and the Glider. Get tickets (opens in a new tab) or find full festival details (opens in a new tab) online. Please drink responsibly, and plan your journey home. Cheers!
