The first Brixton Beer and Wine Festival will be two four-week celebrations of local wine, beer and music.
Running from 2 to 28 September, the wine festival is a collaboration between Fables & Company and Brixton Village. Fables runs the village wine bar Finch. Fables says the intention is to extend a “sense of community” to the entire neighbourhood, not just the market.
Festival packs costing £3 and offering discounts will be available at participating venues; 50p from each pack will go to the Wilds Club, which supports gardens in schools around the UK. Brixton Beer and Wine Festival funds will go to local schools.
The pack offers 25% off all wines by the glass at Finch. Other participating venues include The Laundry, Vining Street Wine Club, Guzzl, Courtesan, and Brixton Hill wine shop Cavavin, all offering festival specials.
Each Sunday during the festival Brixton Village will host free mini wine fairs. The first three Sundays will be in the Village Courtyard. A bigger event on 28 September will take in Market Row as well as the Courtyard.
Wine producers taking part include:
English wine and spirits specialist Henners, 7 September
Fulham-based “urban winery” London Cru which uses Sussex-grown grapes, 14 September
Independent importer and distributor Graft, 21 September
London Cru, Loxwood, Henners, Knightor, Gusbourne, Renegade, Balfour, Hambledon, Roebuck, Bolle – and more to be announced, 28 September
Brixton Village Lates and Handson Family Music will provide music each Saturday and Sunday.
Finch will unveil a new wine list on 2 September to coincide with the festival launch, celebrating smaller regions, more English wines and sparkling reds.
“This festival is about more than just wine, it’s about Brixton,” said Fables & Company founder Andrew Gray.
“We wanted to create something that feels inclusive and rooted in the community. Finch is proud to be part of a movement that brings people together over a glass of something delicious, while also giving back to the place we love.
“Our mission has always been to make wine accessible to all, and this is just another step in the right direction.”
Ignoring the usual advice to drinkers – beer before wine and you’ll feel fine – the Brixton Beer Festival runs from 1 October to 2 November.
As with the wine festival, a £3 pack offers discounts with funds going to Wilds Club and music provided by Brixton Village Lates and the Handson Family.
Participating venues include Finch, Hideaway, Kraft, The Laundry, The Craft Beer Company, Guzzl, Harlem Brewing Taproom, Supercute, The Joint, and Henge.
