A new craft beer named in memory of Sir William Gladstone will be launched at the inaugural Hawarden Charity Beer Festival.

Organised by Deeside Round Table and Deeside Ladies Circle the two day festival, which will be held at the Hawarden Institute, aims to raise a mountain of cash that will be fed back into local good causes.

And the especially brewed ‘Sir William’ will take pride of place on the festival bar after the Gladstone family gave their consent to the Hafod Brewery’s golden craft beer being named after the 7th Gladstone Baronet who was also a Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd and a Knight of the Garter

who passed away in March this year aged 92.

Flintshire County Councillor Ralph Small, who chairs the Hawarden Charity Beer Festival committee, says he’s delighted the Gladstone family agreed to the specially crafted new beer being named Sir William.

He said: “We approached the Gladstone family to ask if they would give their consent and at first Charles Gladstone was not sure as Sir William was in fact a teetotaller.

“However, he came back and said after giving it a lot of thought it was a real honour and he would be very proud to have the new brew named after his father. As a committee we are all thrilled.”

He added: “The idea behind the festival is to raise as much money for good causes as we possibly can while enjoying some really nice beers.

“We have ales such as Phonics which is brewed by the Brains Brewery, Dragon’s Fire which is a JW Lees brew and Titanic which is brewed by Plums Porter as well as plenty of other unique brews.

“There will also be some lagers including Wrexham Lager, plenty of specialist ciders and a Prosecco bar too. And food, which is being supplied by the Gladstone Estate, will be available.

“There will be three sessions, the evening of Friday, July 20th and the afternoon and evening of the next day. There will be live music with Mold band Skariad performing on the Friday evening

“The Saturday afternoon session will be an open mic event for acoustic performers, poets or even comedians while local band Indigo will take to the stage for the Saturday evening session.”

Chair of Deeside Round Table, Jarrod Rawlinson, who is also a member of the festival organising committee alongside his wife, Catherine, who chairs Deeside Ladies Circle, says it’s hoped the event will raise a considerable amount of money for local good causes.

He said: “We put together a fantastic beer festival committee that has worked exceptionally hard in putting the festival together.

“We have managed to get some amazing sponsors on board with financial services firm JPM Capital of Chester being our main benefactor. Dandy's Top Soil have supplied the cash for special tee-shirts for bar staff and the organising committee members to wear which is fantastic.

“We have set a modest £1,000 target to be raised from each session but with ticket sales going well we hope we can raise much more than that. Tickets are £10 which is for entrance along with a programme and commemorative glass.

“As a new committee it’s been a real learning curve but we hope to make this an annual event. We have had so much good advice from both Mold and Chester beer festival organisers.

“It’s going to be a chance to try and enjoy some really authentic beers in a warm and pleasant atmosphere.

“All the money raised will be fed back into local good causes who can apply to the Round Table or Ladies Circle for a cash grant for any charitable purpose.”

And for added fun the Saturday afternoon session will see a Deva Victrix Beard and Mustache Club (DVBMC) organised competition to find the best facial hair across a number of categories.

Organised by DVBMC chair John Cosby of Chester and Hawarden Charity Beer Festival committee member Rory Tompsett, the competition will raise funds for the Deeside Round Table and Ladies Circle as well as Chester Women’s Aid.

John Cosby, who says he hasn’t been clean shaven for more than two decades, said: “It might be seen as a bit of fun but beards and proper moustaches are essential. I wouldn’t ever be without mine.

“The competition will have several categories including best moustache and or partial beard, best fake beard, best seven day growth, best big and best small beard, best salt and pepper or ginger beard and best in show. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Landscape gardener Rory Tompsett, says he has had a beard since winning a gold medal at a stressful 2017 Tatton Show.

He said: “I run Actual Landscapes in Chester and was doing a show garden at Tatton and didn’t have time to shave. I won a gold medal and thought that’s it, I’m keeping the beard, it’s my lucky charm! I haven’t shaved since.

“I’ve been part of the Hawarden Charity Beer Festival committee from the start. It’s going to be a wonderful event and I’d encourage everyone who likes real ales to get a ticket and come along.

“We are all hoping to raise a really good amount for some good local causes. There is going be so much going on, just don’t shave beforehand!”

Tickets for the festival are available for the Festival from local businesses including Trilby Pheasant in Hawarden, RainbowBIZ in the Daniel Owen Precinct, Mold or on the Festival’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hawardenbeerfestival