Get ready for the Kidwelly Beer Festival in September

The Kidwelly Beer Festival is being held on Friday and Saturday, September 5 and 6, at the Princess Gwenllian Centre in Kidwelly.

One of the organisers, Harvey Jones, has kindly sent me some information from the 'match programme' about the Cydweli 900 celebrations and beer in Kidwelly - 

This section of the programme is to advertise Cydweli 900 and to give you some interesting facts about beer and in particular the history of beer in Cydweli.
Cydweli 900 is about celebrating 900 years of our history, give or take a few years. There is disagreement about dates, but this may be due to drinking an excess of beer and can probably be best resolved over a beer!
In any case in 2015 we will be celebrating.
Watch out for events from concerts to a Farm Fun Day, sporting events, and surprise, surprise a BEER FESTIVAL, and we have our own celebration ale:-
Cwrw Cydweli
You will probably be enjoying Cwrw Cydweli as you are reading this. If not, stop reading. Go to the bar and buy one then come back to finish reading while you still can!
So, what about beer in history?

The first evidence of brewing comes from over 7000 years ago in the country that is now Iran, how times change!

They also brewed in ancient Egypt, presumably using Nile water - what a prospect. No wonder the Pharaohs are well preserved.
Here in Wales, we had our own style and taste for beer using honey and spices when the Saxons were swilling pale ale.

Hywel Dda had laws concerning beer, is that how he got his name?
In the Middle Ages Cydweli people will have regularly drunk beer in preference to water which was dodgy, polluted and tidal.

Perhaps this is where we got our reputation for being talkative and a little loud!
Now moving to more modern times. In his book of local history, Mr. Eric Hughes mentions that in 1796 the first Baptist Chapel in Kidwelly was in a former brewery building in Alstred Street.

That marks quite a change of use except for communion.
Kidwelly’s history as a port is marked with many Inns and Pubs, listed are those in Bridge Street, providing accommodation and refreshment!

In 1844                                       Licensee

Bell                                            Ann Mansell

Britannia                                    Richard Griffiths

Cobourg                                    Mary Morris

Hope and Anchor                      Mary Randall

New Inn                                   Sarah Williams

Pelican Inn and Excise office     Edmund Blathwayt

Ship and Castle                        John Evans

Three Crowns                          J. Charles


In 1875                                    Licensee

Bell Inn                                    David Hughes

Castle                                      Henry Chappell

Cawdor Arms                          Evan Thomas

Chemical Hall                          Wm. Glencross

Elephant                                  John Wild

New Inn                                 John Rowlands

Pelican                                   Ann Thomas

Phoenix Inn                            Agnes Waters

White Lion                             Wm. Walters

So, from these lists, we see that just one street had more pubs than the whole town has today and with a smaller permanent population.
To have one in each pub on the way home would have a whole new meaning and will have no meaning for you if you managed to accomplish it!
Now go and try Cwrw Cydweli.
You should NOT leave until you do, and toast all those who have drunk beer in our town for hundreds of years.
You’ll realise now that Kidwelly has a long tradition of beer drinking and that what you are doing is nothing new.
Try to drink responsibly and remember if you pass along Bridge Street do not disturb the ghosts of drinkers past.