Sham Fest

12/06/2026

*** ANYTHING TAKE YOUR FANCY? ***
The real ale line-up for this year's Sham Fest is starting to take shape.
Thanks to pledges from our sponsors, we're up to 12 different beers so far (plus some gin, cider etc.)
Last year we had a range of 20 ales on offer and we're hoping to get to a similar number for 2026.

Sham Fest takes place this year from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th October at the Pollyfield Community Centre, Avon Road, Bideford EX3 4BL.
The main beneficiary will be the East-The-Water Community Food Pantry but donations will also go to other local good causes.

Sham Fest only happens thanks to support from local businesses and other donors.
Anyone who sponsors a barrel also gets to join the judging panel that picks our champion beers!
If you are interested in helping, please message or email [email protected] 😁

05/06/2026

*** THIRD TIME SPONSORS! ***
We're delighted to thank Brunswick Wharf Regeneration for agreeing to sponsor Sham Fest for the third year running! 🥳

Sham Fest 2026 takes place from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th October at the Pollyfield Community Centre, Avon Road, Bideford EX3 4BL.

Expect three days of real ale, cider, gin, rum, music and good cheer - all to raise money for local good causes. Our main beneficiary will be the East-The-Water Community Food Pantry but donations will also go to other projects.

This time, Brunswick Wharf Regeneration are stumping up to sponsor two barrels of ale. (Does that mean they need to send two judges for the panel picking our champion beers or does one have to do double?!)

This is the fourth Sham Fest but the event is only possible thanks to sponsorship from local businesses and other donors. If you can help, please message or email [email protected] 😁

30/05/2026

Putting a beer festival together can be hard work... All that research is exhausting!
But in the interests of creating a fabulous event and raising lots of money for good causes and community groups in ETW and Bideford, I'm prepared to suffer. 😉
Last year, Cornish beers took gold and silver at the first-ever Sham Fest ale tasting so I've been investigating some more small breweries from the other side of the Tamar to see what they've got to offer.
Alfie's Revenge from Driftwood Spars has just won a bronze in CAMRA's national championship, so that's definitely on my shopping list.
As is Black Charge, a lovely oatmeal stout from Dynamite Valley Brewing Co.
But remember - Sham Fest only happens with the support of sponsors and volunteers. So please spread the word if you know anyone who might be able to help!
This year's Sham Fest will be a three-day event, taking place at the Pollyfield Community Centre, Avon Road, Bideford, on Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th October.

22/05/2026

*** THE JUKES ARE COMING BACK! ***
We've got our first headline act for this year's Sham Fest - The Jukes.
They went down a storm in 2025 and they'll be performing again on Friday 23rd October.

Sham Fest 2026 will be three days of real ale, cider, gin, rum, music and good cheer - all in aid of good causes!
It all takes place over three days - Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th October - at the Pollyfield Community Centre, Avon Road, Bideford EX3 4BL.

This is the fourth Sham Fest but the event is only possible thanks to sponsorship from local businesses and other donors.
If you can help, please message me or email [email protected] 😁

14/05/2026

*** HOORAH FOR HERITAGE COB & LIME ***
It's great to be able to announce our first main sponsor for Sham Fest 2026.🥳
Those wonderful people at Heritage Cob and Lime are back as main sponsor for a second year running.👏🙏

Sham Fest 2026 will run over three days - Friday 23rd October, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th - at the Pollyfield Community Centre, Avon Road, Bideford EX3 4BL.

Expect the usual mix of real ales, cider, gin, rum, music and good cheer - all in aid of good causes.

Sham Fest 2026 will again be raising funds for the East-The-Water Community Food Pantry, plus other local groups and good causes.
More details to be announced in due course but get it in your diary now!

Any other sponsors who would like to offer their help (money!), please message me or email [email protected] 😁

23/04/2026

*** SIX MONTHS TODAY! ***
Delighted to announce that Sham Fest will return in exactly six months.
This year's beer festival will run over three days - taking place on Friday 23rd October, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th at the Pollyfield Community Centre, Avon Road, Bideford.
Expect the usual mix of real ales, cider, gin, rum, music and good cheer - all in aid of good causes.
Sham Fest 2026 will be raising funds for the East-The-Water Community Food Pantry again, plus other local groups.
More details to be announced in due course but get it in your diary now!
If any sponsors would like to offer their help (money!), please message me or email [email protected] 😁

06/11/2025

ANYONE GOING TO CORNWALL?
We've got four beer barrels that need a ride home!
Could anyone give them a lift to Redruth or Truro sometime in the next few weeks?
Sorry but there's no beer left inside!
The barrels aren't that heavy and would fit in the back of most cars.

05/11/2025

WHERE'S ALL THE MONEY GONE?!
The final tally for money raised from this year's Sham Fest was £2,751.43.
Of that money, £2,250 has already been donated as follows:

* £1,200 to East-The-Water Community Food Pantry to help with their amazing work helping struggling families and individuals
* £500 to the Pollyfield Community Centre to contribute to ongoing work to improve the centre and its facilities, such as a new kitchen
* £500 to TTVS to assist this excellent community volunteering organisation
* £50 to CAMRA North Devon Branch who provided an enormous amount of support to Sham Fest, and also work to promote our local brewers and pubs

With the remaining money, we had various ideas for where to donate it and plenty of deserving recipients.
Then came news of the recent fire in Honestone Street that resulted in the tragic death of one person and numerous families being forced to leave their homes.
Another £500 has therefore been donated to the Food Pantry, which is continuing to play a leading role in co-ordinating help for the families who have lost not only their homes but also many of their possessions.
It's a drop in the ocean but combined with all the other fundraising that's been taking place, hopefully it's some help.

In more positive news, Sham Fest will be back in October 2026... and might turn into a three-day event!

Once again, thank you to our sponsors, our volunteers, our musicians, our brewers and everyone who came along for making it such a great event!

29/10/2025

Good to see so many happy faces!

This year’s Sham Fest in Bideford poured in record profits, more pints and a bigger crowd than ever—raising thousands for local causes

24/10/2025

*** CHEERS TO YOU ALL! ***
Sham Fest is delighted to announce that we beat last year's fundraising total by just over £500!
There are still a couple of bills to sort out but last weekend should have raised a total of around £2,750.

A huge 'cheers' once again:
* to our sponsors
* to the musicians who played for free
* to the volunteers who helped behind the bar
* to the crew at the Pollyfield Community Centre who do so much behind the scenes
* to the breweries who gave us free barrels
* to Mimick Signs for donating our banners
* to the judges who picked our three best beers

And, above all, to EVERYONE who came along for a pint or three!

Donations will shortly be on their way to the East-The-Water Community Food Bank and other organisations doing good work locally. Details to be announced very soon.

SHAM FEST WILL BE BACK IN 2026!

Thank you to Brunswick Wharf Regeneration, Heritage Cob and Lime, Millbrook Dairy and RedBrick Training for being our main sponsors.

Thank you to CountryLife Brewery, Clearwater Brewery, Dartmoor Brewery, Firebrand Brewing, Keltek Brewery and Otter Brewery for the donated barrels.

And thanks again to CountryLife Brewery for providing the stillage and taps!

Thank you to all the businesses and individuals that donated and sponsored the beers, ciders and spirits:
*Atlantic Spirit
* Blights Motors Limited
* BLaK Property
* Dandy barbers Bideford
* First 4 flooring & beds
* Garlands of Bideford
* Sir Geoffrey Cox MP
* Cllr Jamie McKenzie
* John Coles Contractors Ltd
* Jolene Burgess Foot Care
* Soulcarers LTD
* V’s Bites in Jewson Yard. Bideford