Crowds turn out for return of annual beer festival as Horndean pub hosts ‘amazing’ first event after pandemic started
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Ship and Bell hosted a day of food, drink, and entertainment on Saturday, inviting guests to join in the bank holiday weekend fun.
As well as a local ale tent and a van serving up hot food, the festival also included a charity raffle and a bouncy castle.
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Hide AdA stage was set up so that guests could enjoy live music from bands while at the festival.
![From left, Debbie Henley, Carrie Clarkson and Danielle Tanner are loving the band. Beer festival at the Ship and Bell, Horndean. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280821-13)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg2MTAxNjUxLWVlYzctNGQ4Ni1hMTNjLTkzNDY5MTk0YzE4NDoxMDMyMTJmYi03N2RkLTRkM2MtYTc0Yi1jYzE4NTg0YjQ1NDQ=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![From left, Debbie Henley, Carrie Clarkson and Danielle Tanner are loving the band. Beer festival at the Ship and Bell, Horndean. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280821-13)](/img/placeholder.png)
Some superheroes even made a special appearance to entertain the crowds.
Gemma Oldfield has been landlady at The Ship and Bell for five years.
She said: ‘It’s been really well supported, we’ve had a good turn out.
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Hide Ad![The Superheroes. Beer festival at the Ship and Bell, Horndean. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280821-12)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjdlN2M2OGNkLThlZmMtNDZkMy05ZWU0LWY2Zjc3ZDkwMjQ3YjpkMDI2ZjgxYi1mZThiLTQ0ZmEtOGJmMS1iOWFiZjZlYjQzZjA=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![The Superheroes. Beer festival at the Ship and Bell, Horndean. Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280821-12)](/img/placeholder.png)
‘We’re filled up, including the garden and all the car park.
‘We’ve got a burger van, an outside bar which has two guest ales, a Pimm’s tent, and an inside bar.
‘We’ve got bands playing all day, Hardcase and The Boost Button, as well as the superheroes.’
The London Road pub usually hosts a beer festival every year, although the coronavirus pandemic meant that the event could not be held in 2020.
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Hide Ad![Business partners Mikey Albery and Gemma Oldfield are the tenants at the Ship and Bell in Horndean
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280821-11)](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ1MzU2NDA3LWRiMWItNDBjNC1hMGQ5LTJiZGFmYTBjMjNlODo0YzdlMWVjZC05OWMyLTQ2ZmUtOTVmMS02MjJlZGZkZWZjNjI=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Business partners Mikey Albery and Gemma Oldfield are the tenants at the Ship and Bell in Horndean
Picture: Chris Moorhouse (jpns 280821-11)](/img/placeholder.png)
Gemma added: ‘This is the first event we’ve hosted since Covid.
‘It’s an amazing day, it’s great to see the pub filled up.
‘It’s been a risk to take on but a success - I’m really happy.’
The team at The Ship and Bell plan to continue to host beer festivals each year on the bank holiday weekend.