My first time here and my concerns about lack of choice on second day were unfounded, also much more manageable crowds I gather than on previous day...food area was especially quiet. Chatted to several acquaintances and had a great time, can't wait for next year already !...oh and obviously not listing all beers avaialable !

My third visit to Margate for this ever popular festival. As expected, Good Friday was very busy from the off and shoulder to shoulder by 3pm. All ales sampled were in top condition and good to find two ales from the new Kent Brewery, Old Dairy. Good to see many familiar faces in the crowd and behind the bar as well. Spotted fellow Pubsandbeer scribe Whinger at Ashford station and probably many other scribes here were at the fest that I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting! The music from Hobo Jones & the Junkyard Dogs, went down well and had the crowd rocking in there chairs. Well done to Thanet Camra and all the volunteers behind the bar. A good time had by all...roll on 2011!

Every year, this branch improves on an already great festival. This year adding a Camra fast queue that got us in before 12.00 and a quiet hall for us miserable old buggers who like to have a conversation over our pint. Lots of people to meet and chat with including Mark Dredge (Pencil & Spoon beer blog), Shaun from Ratebeer, Phil Lowry, the Ashford Camra group as well as my old friends Andrew and Martin. Good afternoon, even if the beer didn't wow me.

Here with Ian "2 beers", Brian, Martin, Chris and Paul. The CAMRA-member's queue meant we got in at 11:45 and got our first beers in before 12. The quiet seating area was great and meant we could avoid the noisy man and his washboard antics on the main stage (although it was nice to hear a hill-billy version of "The Ace of Spades" as I wandered through to get my last beer. Had a chat with Phil from the Saints and Sinners brewery, Jeff & Jo and Blair who was behind the bar.