I appreciate that this is for the 2001 Festival, which was the first festival I attended, but I have been going to the GBBF ever since, most recently last week's 2009 event.

The Great British Beer Festival is essentially a huge pub in a convention centre. Run by CAMRA (the campaign for real ale) it show case proper beers, mostly from smaller breweries, from around the UK, along with a small showcase of foreign beers and a selection of ciders and perrys. In addition various foodstalls are present to enable you to line your stomach while drinking.

The usual practice is to pay your entrance fee (£5 in 2001, now £10 - so much for recession prices) and then acquire either a pint glass or half pint glass. You pay a deposit on these glasses and can either keep them or get your money back at the end of your visit. With glass in hand you can visit the various bars and order either a half or full pint of what ever you choose. Prices are usually not expensive.

However, make no mistake that this event is for only a section of the alcohol drinking market. Here you will find no gassy lagers and no fine wines. The concentration is on the dying traditional pub culture and British brewing.

Its is very much a shame that so many people in Britain today would rather drink gassy rubbish than have a proper British beer. On offer here are some truly wonderful beers (and some truly awful ones as well!), which makes for an enjoyable time. You aren't there to get drunk, rather just to enjoy trying different flavours.

Unfortunately there are some who go to abuse and you always get your ubiquitus green sand patches, which often are covering up vomit patches, but largely people behave.

The food stalls are always good. On offer are traditional British fare such as pies and sausages, the usual burgers, curries, thai food and sometimes the exotics (such as crocodile, kangeroo, spingbok and kudu at the 2009 event). The dishes are just enough to compliment the beers and to not leave you drunk on an empty stomach.

All in all its great fun and I will be going back again next year.