The Whitby District Lion’s Club will launch its 15th annual beer festival at the Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre on Thursday, July 23, organisers have confirmed. The four-day event, held in the centre of town at Haggersgate, aims to showcase small-batch craft beers and ciders while raising funds for a range of local charities.
Festival format and fundraising
The festival opens at 12 p.m. on July 23 and runs daily from noon to 10 p.m. through Saturday, before closing at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 26. Entrance is priced at £5, which includes a commemorative festival tankard that attendees can keep. Once inside, visitors purchase beer tokens to sample the selection.
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Thursday–Saturday | 12:00–22:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00–16:00 |
What’s on tap
Organisers say the festival will feature more than 30 artisan ales, boutique beers and ciders, sourced from local and regional independent brewers and micro-breweries. Styles on offer are expected to cover a broad spectrum, including pale ales, IPAs, bitters, blonds, golden and dark milds, porters and traditional ciders ranging from scrumpy to fruit-flavoured varieties.
- Over 30 real ales and ciders from independent brewers
- Traditional draught cask serving for authentic flavour
- Family-friendly approach with soft drinks for supervised children
"Commemorative festival tankard"
Community impact
Last year the festival raised about £5,000 for Whitby Lions, and organisers say all funds are donated to local causes. The club supports small independent charities and direct personal good causes, including people with disability, learning or health needs. Part of the previous year’s proceeds paid for beer barrel cooling jackets to ensure casks were served at the right temperature throughout the event.
The festival is promoted as welcoming to a broad audience — from day-trippers and evening-goers to real ale enthusiasts — and families are invited, provided children are supervised and refrain from the licensed areas. Entrance and token pricing, the on-site setting at the Seafarers Centre and the festival’s history of local donation underline the event’s dual role as both a visitor attraction and a community fundraiser.
For Whitby residents and visitors, the festival offers an opportunity to sample small-batch brewing craft while supporting charities that rely on local philanthropic efforts. The organisers encourage visitors to plan travel and accommodation early, as the event sits in the town centre and is expected to draw steady attendance over the long weekend.
