To get started, you’ll need a glass. Choose a half pint or pint glass at the main foyer (included in your ticket price). Look after your glass as if it is lost or broken, it will cost you for a replacement.

Next, buy some tokens: they’re sold from the next hatch along, anything from a pound to whatever you realistically will need (there’s no cash taken behind the bars, as this helps us to serve you quicker and keeps our hands cleaner). Any unused tokens can be donated to the festival charity or get a refund for whole £1strips at the token hatch before time is called.

On entering the Main Hall or the Sussex LocALE bar downstairs (only beers from Sussex brewers are sold here), there will be rows and rows of casks. There will be nearly 240 beers and some 60 ciders and perrries on sale – a bit daunting perhaps? So, what should you do if you are uncertain of what beer or cider to choose?

Have a look in the programme: there is a description of each ale and a coloured glass symbol to indicate which style of beer it is. Still unsure what your choice will be like? Just ask the bar staff who will say if it’s a light or dark or a gold beer. What will it taste like? Ask for a small taster and, if it is to your liking, you can choose a third, half or a pint. Now you are up and running! All the bars operate in the same way so make your way around the bars enjoying the delights that British beer and cider offer.

Feeling hungry? The food bar is located upstairs on the Balcony Bar. Hot and cold food plus veggie options on sale (but food is cash only).

We’re sure you will enjoy yourself and hope that we have given you an insight to all that real ales can offer. If you are that impressed, please come back next year or look out for other CAMRA or pub festivals on during the year.

All our staff are unpaid volunteers who give up their own free time to make sure everyone has a good time. So, have you thought to yourself, I would like to be the other side of the bar helping next year’s first-timer festival visitors? Easy – just go and join at the membership stall and we’ll see you either side of the bar in 2013!

Any more questions?

Hopefully this brief guide has helped to set the scene but, if not, why not contact us by email, Facebook or Twitter (@sussexbeerfest) and we'll do our best to respond (and update this guide as appropriate).