Moving On : #ISBF6 Pt 2

“Do you remember the bills you have to pay? Or even yesterday?”

Pic courtesy Niamh

At almost 4 weeks remove, you gain a sense of perspective. And priority.

I'm sure that in 11 months I'll have forgotten the almost extreme stress that this event puts me - and by extention, those closest to me - under. #ISBF6 wasn't planned to coincide with the birth of our first Grandchild, but hell, his arrival doesn't half lend that aforementioned perspective!

So much so, that the last 4 weeks have been about making some pretty bloody momentous decisions. This event has always evolved. “Evolution, not Revolution” has been a byword. This event is imperfect. Maybe that is part of its “charm”, part of what keeps people coming back. When I look for a moral for this event, I look to the song “We Can't Be Beat” by The Walkmen.

“…. I don't need perfection, I love the whole… ”

In truth, I don't “love” this event (as stated in the last Webpost, my relationship with this is somewhat “complicated”) but what I do “love” it's the love shown to it by so many of the people that come. Many of whom are unpaid and unsolicited “Ambassadors”.

And that's lovely.

Photo courtesy Bob.

Speaking of lovely.

I don't waste words. I say precisely what I mean to say. So please take these words at face value.

We simply have the loveliest, most wonderful, warm, friendly people who help during this event. Several of whom wouldn't know me personally from that alleged Rib donator, but that doesn't stop them feeling like family.

I can't call them “volunteers” any more. That word doesn't do them justice.

I can't name them all, that would lead to RSI. But they are simply the loveliest bunch. They deserve all the praise. All the love.

I adore the bones of them.

From Year 2. And all (bar one) still with us at #ISBF6.

What we do - certainly in terms of the end result - wouldn't be possible without selfless offers of sponsorship.

This year, I had a carrot dangled on front of me. The prospect of a major business - with a big charity pot - becoming involved. The mere thought of that made me question what I do with this event.

And it felt wrong.

Feeling - to me - is everything with this event. And I truly love that people sponsor things as individuals. And that the businesses that sponsor things here - and take advertisements in the programme - are small. Independent. Local.

And that matters hugely to us all. Keeping this human. And local.

And that won't change. The amount pledged this year - compared to last year - however, did change. It doubled. And by ‘eck that helps! Especially when you look to import beer from Australia….. And stuff needs to be paid for in advance…..

Anyway. Those lovely sponsors. We thank them HUGELY. They make a lot of what happens possible (and some of them tolerate my howlers! You know who you are….)

So. Enormous appreciation goes out to the following……

Claire & Scott at House of Hops in Swinton (Thank you SO MUCH for sponsoring our glassware)

Alan & Chris at The Petersgate Tap for sponsoring our lovely programme!

Andy Marsh

David Martin

Sean Campbell

Stephen Donaldson

Kate

Gavin & Chelsea McCloskey-Lambert

Rebecca Lomax

Nick Payne

Paul Flint

Ian Brown & Zoe Pearson

Colin & Sue Murphy

Rebecca Nicholl

Karkli

Chris Dixon

Pete Clark

Mowgli

Jock Joyce

GRUB (More later!)

James Stephens

Nina Colquhoun

Bob Preece

Paul Boardman

Martin Gunning

John ODonnell

Mark "The Gasman" Pursey

Plug & Taps

Andy Berk

Northern Type

Kath and Ian Robinson

Bob Longworth

Mike Jones

Nick Moss

Stephen Cafferty

Jo & Mike Dewsnip

Phil Kyte

Reich Group

Drink!

Dan at Beerstork

Scott Allen

Rebecca Pettman

Craft Brewtique

The Firkin Bar

Playhouse2

The Grapes

Simon & Sarah Gare

Colin Massey (Ali & Mark)

Beer Shed

1B Tap

Zac Bearshaw

Podiatry Clinics (Yorkshire) Ltd

Bernard Randall

Craft Beer Newcastle (Daisy)

Dave Griffiths

Jim Khor (Nasi Lemak)

Jordan Dewsnip

Mark Johnson

The Nook & Cranny

Colin Barker

Rob Shaw

Mark Smith-Magee

Gareth Willams

Otters Tears

Sarah Millington

Jon McQuillan

Station Hop, Levenshulme

Monton Tap

For all the beer sponsorship and the ads in the lovely programme….

HUGE shout outs to the following. Without whose genius, help and love this event couldn't even begin to……

Team Black Jack - Words fail me (yeah yeah, I know…..) Absolute ⭐s.

Malcolm. You know it. Here's to East West!

Andy Heggs and Drumbeat. For the design genius, the website and sponsorship of said thing of beauty.

Bailey & Jules - For the love, support and (again) helping us out with the lovely sound system!

Dave & Jen at The Northern Type for sponsoring our lovely posters (still got some!)

To the divine Charlie for her magnificent gin bar and the wonderful Gin makers who donated their lovely, lovely Gins!

Batch Brew

Brindle Distillery (Cuckoo Gin)

Caorunn Gin

Hidden Gem

Forest Gin

Manchester Gin

Turncoat

Tappers Gin

Not to forget the incredibly generous Fevertree for the tonics!

Big, big love to Jo & Mike Dewsnip. The Jukebox, The Playlist, The Joy. You know I love you both!

To the best beer friends - they are no longer “volunteers”, they're much more than that.

In Jeff's own delightful shorthand…. 😁

Jazzy, Karkli , Zoe, Mike & Jo, Jock, Chris D, Jeff, Linda, Pete, Dave R, TLO, Jerry, Sarah, Maxine, Shaun, Wok, Denis, Colin, Bevis, Mark & Alison, John & Caroline, Charlie & Simon, Rik, Mick, Mark A, Chris C, Andrew & Richard, Andrew 41, Otto & Margaret, Josh, Gavin, Chelsea, Matt A, Laurent, Rob C, Nick M, Nick C, Heather, Katherine & bro.

Thank you all. So very much. You make this event what it is.

Amongst all of the praise (and it's been truly humbling), not many picked up on the main thing that floats my boat. And compels me to do this. Year after year.

It's that people matter.

The ISBF family have been through the mill over the last few years. Mental health issues seem omnipresent. That's why I foresee that Mental Health charities will be the prime beneficiaries of our efforts.

On a financial level, we brought in more money than ever this year, with sponsorship being double that of last year.

You, the guests, spent more than ever too. And we thank you from the bottom of that chest muscle thing.

We also spent more. Airfreighting fresh beer from Australia doesn't come cheap. Believe that.

However, we've managed to make donations to two Mental Health charities.

£300 (as a pledge match) has gone to some friends of ISBF doing a sponsored run this weekend - in aid of Lancashire MIND - in the name of our son, Fionn.

In addition (and rather the point), I’ll be meeting the CEO of Start Inspiring Minds next Wednesday. Who will benefit from #ISBF6 to the tune of over £11,300 in total

You're not a bad bunch you lot.

Let's see if we can beat that for #ISBF7 eh? 😁 Let planning commence!

See you soon.

Jim x