13/09/2023
Sutton Benger Beer and Sausage Festival
The Twelfth Sutton Benger Beer and Sausage Festival took place on Saturday 9th September on the recreation ground. The event was sold out through purchase of 550 pre-event tickets and thus, very well attended. Customers were enticed with a selection of 13 each beers, ciders and food options. Everyone was well entertained by the three bands who played, “No Alarms and No Devizes”, “The Shadow Monkeys” and “The Young Vintage”. Everybody seemed to enjoy the event, despite the intense heat!
This event began in 2011 as a “one-off” fund-raiser for the church. However, the organisers have kept it going for 11 further events, each named for the event number in sequence – e.g. “Cinq a Few”, “The Hex Factor” and “...at the Eleventh Hour”. During this time the event has raised thousands of pounds for projects and community in the local area.
This year, the festival organisers will be donating £1,500 each to the local food bank charity, “Foodbox”; All Saints Church, Sutton Benger towards necessary repairs to the walls; and Sutton Benger Church of England primary school, towards establishing a sensory room. A £100 donation has been made to the local Brownies and surplus sausages and crisps were donated to Unity House in Chippenham.
The aim has not primarily been to raise money, but to provide the local community with a fun, family event that would be relatively low-cost and inclusive. We hope that this aim has been achieved. It would not have been possible to put on and run the event without the tireless support of volunteers from the community, both this year and in past years, many of whom have assisted at every festival. Our heartfelt thanks to all who have contributed to help the event the success it has been.
However, all things must pass and the committee believe the event has outgrown it’s purpose. The event and ticket sales are attracting a far wider clientele and it has become too large an event for a small group of volunteers to run and organise in a safe environment for all. So this year will be the last of this event. But, we believe there are sufficient talented, visionary people in our community who may want to create something alternative. What shape that will be, who will run and organise it, we do not yet know, but hopefully there will be something exciting in the village calendar next year!
It just remains for us as the organising committee to thank you, the community, for supporting our event over twelve years, and through your support, allowing us to help so many worthy causes.
