Bowgie Inn‘s annual Ale & Cider Festival, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend (22nd-25th), was hailed as the pub’s biggest and most successful yet. Four days of sunshine, live music, family-friendly fun, garden games, and tastings of craft ales, ciders and gins brought the community together for an unforgettable celebration.
This year’s Festival raised a remarkable £7,289.97 for Cornwall Hospice Care with every penny from donations and the beer tent going directly to the charity. Thanks to Bowgie Inn’s ongoing support, nearly £65,000 has now been raised for this incredible cause.
Sally Pickles, Landlady at Bowgie Inn, commented, “We are absolutely delighted with how this year’s Ale & Cider Festival went. From the fantastic live performances to seeing families and friends enjoying themselves in our beautiful beer garden overlooking Crantock beach, it was a Bank Holiday to remember! Most importantly, we’re overjoyed to be able to support Cornwall Hospice Care with an amazing £7289.97 raised – our biggest total yet!”
The funds raised will make a real difference to Cornwall Hospice Care, supporting services such as specialist palliative care for patients, practical and emotional support for families, and the maintenance of local hospice facilities. Every donation helps the charity continue providing vital care to people across Cornwall when they need it most.
Highlights from the Festival included live music from Rhys: The Night Church Pianist, Acappella Sound, Newquay Rowing Club Singers, Black Velvet Irish Music, The Claze, Indian Queens Band, and more, alongside a Silent Disco, ale, cider and gin tastings, face-painting and family games.
“There were so many memorable moments throughout the Festival, from our very own barman Rhys joining in with the Newquay Rowing Club Singers – they even told him there’s a shirt waiting if he ever decides to join them – to incredible performances across the weekend. The Claze had the beer tent rocking with everyone up and dancing, our fireworks display was the best we’ve ever had, and Rhys The Night Church Pianist was pure magic” continued Sally.
“The harmonies of Acappella Sound drifted beautifully through the beer garden, Lauren Bailey’s set was an absolute joy, Avalon were fantastic, and the Indian Queens Band were a huge hit, filling the air with classics and popular tunes that had everyone smiling. There are too many highlights to list, but it truly was a weekend to remember!”
Participating breweries and distilleries included Padstow Brewing Company, Bluntrock Brewery, St Austell Brewery, Sharps Brewery, Atlantic Brewery, Firebrand Brewing, Southwestern Distillery, St Ives Brewery, Skinners Brewery, Healeys, and Jolly’s Drinks.
The grand finale of the Ale & Cider Festival 2025 was the Quiz, with teams participating in a music round, movie round, picture round and two general knowledge rounds, ending with a raffle. “It was such a fun way to close Ale Fest and a big thank you to Claire – our Quiz Master!”
Ben Statham-Wilkins, Head of Brand & Marketing at Cornwall Hospice Care commented, “We’re incredibly grateful to Bowgie Inn and everyone who supported this year’s Ale & Cider Festival. The funds raised will make a real difference to the patients and families we care for across Cornwall. Beyond the fundraising, events like this showcase the incredible spirit in our county, and we’re delighted to have been part of such a joyful celebration. Bowgie Inn’s ongoing support over the years has been truly invaluable.”
“Bowgie Inn has always been an independent pub at the heart of our community, and our annual Ale & Cider Festival is a real celebration of that. It takes a huge amount of work to bring it all together, but every second is worth it. It’s not just about raising funds for such an incredible charity – it’s about people of all ages coming together to share laughter, enjoy music and make lasting memories. That sense of togetherness is what a pub is truly all about” added Sally.
“We’re so grateful to everyone who made it possible – especially St Austell Brewery, Healey’s and Rattler for their support, to all the musicians, performers, suppliers, volunteers and breweries who gave their time, talent and energy. And of course, a massive thank you to everyone who joined us over the August Bank Holiday weekend – we couldn’t have done it without you.”
For more information about Bowgie Inn, visit www.bowgie.com.
