Celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the Oast
Centre in Rainham have been kicked off in style with a specially brewed beer taking
pride of place at a fundraising beer festival.
The Oast Community Centre in Rainham opened its doors in
1978 and three Kent real ale enthusiasts have brewed a beer to celebrate the
occasion. Named “Toast to the Oast” the beer was brewed at Four Candles Brewery
in Broadstairs and will take top listing at the Oast festival taking place on
22/23 June to raise funds for ongoing restoration work. The festival will
feature 40 Kentish beers and 10 Kent ciders as well as live music from local
bands on both days. Friday features bands Fightmilk, Theatre Royal, Stuart
Turner & the Flat Earth Society and Darren Hayman while playing on Saturday
are Love Reptiles, Ravella Bridge, Ancient Orange and Turtle Circles.
Oast Centre Chair Paul Clark said “It’s fantastic to see the
Oast hosting a beer festival in the kiln where hops were dried in the early 20th
Century. The Oast is on a journey of reinvention and we hope to highlight the
facilities that exist here to all the visitors over the festival weekend.” Andy
James, an organiser of the festival added “Being adjacent to Rainham station
the Oast is a perfect location for a beer festival so we’re looking forward to
raising much needed funds to help the Oast centre to continue to provide a
place for local groups and businesses to meet”
Photo of Paul Clark (left) Chair of The Oast Centre with brewers Karl Martin (centre) and Nick France
The Oast was acquired in 1970 by Rainham and Wigmore
Community Association and converted to open as a community centre in 1978. The
centre is a registered charity run by volunteers with facilities for hire by
groups, conferences and business meetings. The buildings date back over 130
years and funds raised will help to maintain the fabric of the Oast as well as
making the site accessible to all
sections of the local community. The Oast website is http://www.oastcentre.org/
More information on the festival can be found on the website
www.rainham-kent.co.uk
or www.Facebook.com/oastfestival
