However, due to a change of Organiser, there will be some interesting changes (nothing sinister, the previous organiser wanted to step down and will be working at the event - we are all volunteers you know!). The 2006 Winter Ale Festival will therefore be at the USSC from 5.30pm on Thursday 19th January to 10.30pm, Friday 20th January from 12pm to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10.30pm and Saturday 21st January from 11.30am to 10.30pm. Admission will cost £2.50 per session, except for Friday lunchtime. Note though that due to licence issues these times may change.

Of course if you are a card-carrying CAMRA member you can get in free, but we would strongly prefer you to fill in the staffing form included in this issue and work. Card-carrying members of the USSC can also come in for free. Please note that we have to restrict numbers due to fire regulations, so you will be told to wait until we can let more people in if we have reached the fire limit, even if you are a member of the club.

There will also be some changes to the layout of the event. We are looking to get more winter ales and a larger range of ciders and introduce a small Foreign bar selling some Winter Ales from Belgium.

We will of course have our souvenir glasses, and the Club will be doing its excellent quality, good value food again.

At the time of going to press, nothing had been decided on the music front, so watch out for further information.

Please volunteer to work if you can. We are still looking for a staffing officer, and a couple of other key posts need filling, as well as Bar Staff, Stewards etc. As many people know from the Summer Festival, you don't have to be a member of CAMRA to work (we prefer it if you are though!)

We are looking forward to a good and interesting festival this year - but spare a thought for the poor organisers, as it appears we are going to be the first CAMRA festival to take place under all the new regulations (gulp?!).

See You There
Ron Buchet - Festival Organiser