A manager at a Sheffield festival who has has been a long time champion of the local beer and cider scene in city has told how he has turned his passion into a lifelong career.

Andrew Parkin, managing director of Ciderman, has run the cider side of the Sheffield Beer & Cider Festival since 1986, and worked for the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), before setting up his own company. 

Mr Parkin said: “All the ales and ciders are bought from local farms and breweries and all shipped here to the festival.” This is some achievement as there are around 150 different types of cider and beer at the festival.

His work supporting local breweries makes a major contribution in helping to regenerate run-down areas, often the forerunners of indie and like-minded businesses that can attract customers and turn an area into the next night time hot-spot.

Although Sheffield bucks the national trend for closures within the brewing industry, local brewers still find it hard to sell their produce because of the steep licensing costs to sell directly to public events, according to a Sheffield University report on ‘A Craft of Beer’. 

Mr Parkin said: “They sell to me and I can sell to the university and other venues”.

This means that local producers can get their produce at the many other local events which also celebrate real ale and cider and support the pub culture and bring people together. 

Andrew Shue, who was attending the festival, said: “I wouldn’t miss it. It’s so good to have an outdoor event like this.”

With many vibrant local businesses, it’s hard to believe that only a few years ago, real ale and cider were endangered species.

Mr Parkin was an early member of CAMRA, which campaigns for ‘quality real ale, cider and perry in thriving pubs in every community’. And they seem to be succeeding. 

He said: “There’s been a great turn out at the festival,”  – which can only be good for a vibrant beer and cider-drinking community in Sheffield.

The festival was also joined by The Tuesday Club which hosts the music by bringing together artists from around Sheffield.