Back Home?

No, not in Manchester, that's tomorrow. I mean back at Olympia for the Great British Beer Festival. I worked quite a few years there and liked it. When we moved to Earl's Court, we got used to that too, despite it always feeling that you were working in an underground car park. Going back to the renovated Olympia with its new mezzanine floor where we on the German bar were located, was wonderful. Light, airy, sunny and with pretty good aircon,it was uplifting. Light does make it all seem better. Better for staff and better for customers. There was loads more seating too, which is always a good thing.

I know there are logistic and size issues, but I reckon if we got the other hall too, then it could be a great and appropriate venue once again. Nobody compared it unfavourably to Earl's Court and none of my colleagues working there wanted it to go back if we could do it as well in Olympia. Can it move back to Olympia at its full size? That's a question I don't know the answer to, but I know it is being looked at. This was a great GBBF despite difficulties and the lack of tube trains, but overall it was brilliant. I had my own doubts about it going ahead during the Olympics, but it all seemed fantastic and it really worked - as usual due to excellent organisation and a vast army of volunteers and of course the enthusiastic crowd of happy topers.

So well done Olympia and well done us. CAMRA, like London can put on a good show I reckon.

This photo was nicked from the internet. Doesn't it look good?I forgot to take a similar one.