How to organise a beer festival

Jeremy Westcott is the licensee of the Bell in Buckland Dinham, Somerset. The pub holds a number of beer, cider, music and even tobacco festivals throughout the year. Here, Jeremy, organiser of events at the pub, shares his top tips to making beer festivals run smoothly.

1.​ Demand sale or return for beer​

"That's number one. Without that, don't take their beer. When you're talking close to £100 a barrel, you can't afford to be left with any over. Many breweries are willing to do it- they need beer orders."

2.​ Tickets​

"Don't take any prisoners- be very strict with who you sell to and always sell in advance, never on the door. It means that people will show up, even if the weather is bad. I'm going very much for wrist bands now, because people will try and get in for free."

3.​ Toilets and bins​

"These are massively important. If you want people to drink a lot, they are going to need to wee a lot, so you need to make sure you have extra provisions. Rent the cheapest possible, the ones they use on building sites. Also hire some flip top bins, as one of the biggest jobs can be clearing up afterwards."

4.​ Security​

"Make sure you have high security on your stored barrels. We had a theft in the middle of the festival."

5.​ Money​

"Make people purchase tokens to pay for beer. Never ever take any cash across the counter. You don't want your staff being besieged and having to sort out change. We charge £1 for one token which we sell from one till behind the bar, or from staff circulating with bum bags.

"All staff have to do is rip them in half so they can't be used again. It means you can take on volunteers without having to worry about them pinching money. If customers haven't spent them, they can't have their money back. We also do a charity raffle where people can use their tokens, because once they have got tokens in their hands, its not real money. They will just give them to you."

6. ​ Beer​

"Don't get too hung up on the ones you choose. Not everyone is going to like the same things. But make sure the breweries give you point of sale material- banners, runners, glasses and such. We use plastic glasses at the event for safety. But people are given a souvenir glass as well and their first drink free under their ticket price."

7.​ Police​

"We always make sure the police visit. We ask them to. People see the uniforms and the car and they appreciate that. They will come, stand around for 10 minutes and have a chat. They love to do it because they have been invited."

8.​ Profit​

"I always think that you should be aiming to make around ten percent of whatever the festival costs you to put on. Cost things with that in mind."

"Those are the main rules, obey those and you have a chance."