A big THANK YOU to everyone for supporting us during 2024. May 2025 bring you health and good fortune.
ALE BY RAIL:
Saturday, 28th. December
The last day out on the train for this year. A chance to check out Northern Ireland's new transport hub, then a hearty lunch overlooking Belfast Lough and the historic Norman castle while sipping some pints of cask ale and enjoying a relaxed chat.
A last pint in the Crown Bar, Belfast, before heading home.
Enjoy Old Year's Night festivities and we will meet up again come January.
WISHING ALL OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS:
A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
NOVEMBER:
Supporting Movember
Every year in November BFTWNI supports and highlights men's health on our website and X (Twitter)
For more details, check out their website. They have sites in several countries - this is the UK website: MOVEMBER
City Centre Walkabout
Friday, 1st Novemberr
Starts:
Voodoo Lounge, Fountain Street. (approx.) 12:15.
A walk round to side street bars to see what is happening. A bit of pre-Christmas window shopping, but certainly seeking out and supporting cask ales.
The Belfast Beerfest
Thursday, 7th. November
Banana Block, Portview Trade Centre, N/Ards Road
We were there on the first day as there is less of a crowd, a big choice, met with some CAMRA HQ people and checked out what cask ales were on the counter.
OCTOBER:
THE HUNT FOR CASK OCTOBER
This is a Northern Ireland initiative set up by BFTWNI to highlight cask ales available during the month of October - information may change at the last minute. We have a look to see what local premises are serving cask ale on a regular basis and highlight supporting local breweries and premises on our our Twitter account. A big THANK YOU to all those premises supporting good quality cask ales!
The Crown Bar
Thursday, 10th. October from 3pm
A meet with the crew and enjoy a selection of cask ales in Belfast's finest public house.
The Bridge House
Saturday, 26th. October
Lunch and some good cask ale, chill out and chat. Crown Bar for a final pre-home pint.
SEPTEMBER:
CASK ALE WEEK:
19th - 29th September
As always, BFTWNI supports CAW, a national and high profile event. Sadly, we do not have enough cask outlets nor guaranteed quality, so we stick to what we know for this year.
PUB CRAWL:
"BFTWNI Beermats For Back Street Boozers of Belfast"
Thursday 5th September.
A walkabout round the streets of Belfast to hand out our new BFTWNI beermats and have a chat with staff/managers & customers. The itinerary was a somewhat spur of the moment thing but there were a couple of places on the agenda for the sampling of some fine cask ales.
Starts:
Voodoo Lounge, Fountain Street. (approx.) 12:15.
CAW - LUNCH & ALES:
Thursday, 19th. September, starting about 12:30.
Lunch at The Bridge House, with a few cask ales and conversation. Next stop, The Crown Bar for some more cask ales and conversation.
CAW - ALE BY RAIL:
Thursday, 26th. September
A day out on the train. A hearty lunch overlooking the Belfast Lough while sipping some pints of cask ale and enjoying a relaxed chat.
A last pint in the Crown Bar, Belfast, before heading home.
AUGUST:
INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY
Friday, 2nd August
As always, BFTWNI was out there supporting and celebrating.
A great lunch and a selection of cracking cask ales.
PUB CRAWL:
"Beermats For Back Street Boozers of Belfast"
Wednesday 7th August.
Our new BFTWNI beermats were handed out to some bars last month and we took the opportunity to do the same again this month, chat with staff/managers & customers. The itinerary is probably a spur of the moment thing but there are a couple of places on the agenda for the sampling some fine cask ales.
Started:
@Sunflower_Pub (approx.) 12:30.
JULY:
A BFTWNI BBQ
Saturday, 6th JULY
Starting about 2:00 with some foreign draught (sorry - mini kegs) and Phillipine side dishes.
IMPROMPTU BEER DAY
20th July
Belfast City Centre
A Saturday in summer so it feels like we should have a beer or two. Meet at the Crown about 2pm and see what happens.
IMPROMPTU BEER DAY - deja vu?
24th July
Belfast City Centre
A free afternoon in summer so it feels like we should (again) have a beer or two. Meet at the Bridge House about 1:30pm and see what happens.
JUNE:
DIABETIC WEEK:
10-16 June:
Knowing this well from family history, having it ourselves, we highlight this event on Twitter.
PUB CRAWL:
"Beermats For Back Street Boozers of Belfast"
Saturday 1st. June.
Our new BFTWNI beermats were handed out to some bars last month and we shall took the opportunity to do the same again this month. The itinerary was probably a spur of the moment thing but there are a couple of places on the agenda for the sampling some fine cask ales.
Starts: Sunflower Pub (approx) 12:30.
BEER DAY BRITAIN:
Saturday, 15th. June
The Bridge House, Belfast
As usual, we supported this event (which always falls on the 15th) by visiting Wetherspoons for lunch and a few cask ales.
ALE BY RAIL:
Carrickfergus
Wednesday, 26th June.
A good summer day for this mid week trip on the train for a spot of lunch and some cask ales, while admiring the view across Belfast Lough.
MAY:
"May is Mild" has been a long running slogan to support the (almost dying) style of Mild Ale in the UK. We always do our very best to support it in the premises around Northern Ireland!
TREVOR DICKSON MEMORIAL DRINK:
Thursday, 2nd May:
A few pints of his beloved cider to celebrate the life of a great friend and BFTWNI member.
Sadly, this year we had a hospital appointment on the day but we remembered him with a meal and cider at home.
STAR WARS:
Saturday, 4th May
Celebrating the official Star Wars Day - "May The Fourth Be With You!"
Lunch and cask, the Bridge House, Belfast.
ALE BY RAIL
Saturday, 25th May
As requested; a Train trip to Carrickfergus for lunch, a few cask ales and back to Belfast for the traditional pint of ale in the Crown before heading home.
APRIL:
LUNCH and ALES
Wednesday 17th. April
A relaxing lunch, a few good cask ales and some good company.
APRIL ALE BY RAIL
Once again we did the popular Ale By Rail event from Belfast to Carrickfergus for lunch & some cask ales. Then return to Belfast for a couple more at the Crown before heading home or onwards.
Saturday, 27th. April.
MARCH:
March is National Essential Tremor month and we highlight this on our Twitter feed.
ALE BY RAIL
Wednesday, 13th. March
Once again we did the popular Ale By Rail event from Belfast to Carrickfergus for lunch & some cask ales. Then a return to Belfast for a couple more at the Crown before heading home or onwards.
BRIDGE HOUSE LUNCH
Saturday, 23rd. March.
Daytime
A relaxed lunch and a few good cask ales.
feBREWary:
BFTWNI once again supporting the local brewers (who find it hard to get their products on to the bar counter and into the licensed trade in general) with its own FEBREWARY campaign.
KA DEAN MEMORIAL PUB CRAWL
23rd. February
Daytime
To remember the humour & times of a past member.
Famous for being "The man with two names" over here - Tony on one side of the place, Kenny on the other - he was a cask ale hero: fully supporting cask ale, and cask ale groups.
THE CROWN BAR
17th. February
Daytime
Lunch and some cask ales at this Victorian treasure.
BUYANUARY:
BFTWNI once again supported the business community (which is usually financially depressed the month of January) with its own BUYANUARY campaign!
CITY CENTRE CASK
Headed into Belfast for a spot of lunch and checked what cask ales were available - support local!
ALE BY RAIL
Carrickfergus
16th January
A mid week trip on the train for a spot of lunch and some cask ales, while admiring the view across Belfast Lough.
