How Craft Brew Festival is redefining beer events

At FIXR, our mission is simple: to be the platform behind the experiences people love. One of those stories is Craft Brew Festival – the fast-growing, UK-wide celebration of independent brewing that’s redefining what a beer festival can be.

Having tried the traditional token model – "a nightmare to manage" – Simon Robinson and team are taking a different approach: "You just pay for entry and you can go around and try anything you like! We see it more like a gig with amazing drinks”.

Despite only launching in 2023, the annual Craft Brew Festival schedule is already 15 events strong, spanning 10 different cities – and they're only just getting started.

Having partnered with FIXR ahead of their festive season, we spoke with Simon about their ambitious plans, and why FIXR was the perfect fit.

From lockdown cans to a nationwide festival movement

When Simon and his co-founder Gareth first launched Craft Brew Festival, it wasn’t a grand business plan — it was born out of lockdown.

“We both worked in the music industry before COVID. When everything shut down, we got really into craft beer. After lockdown we went to a traditional beer festival and thought: we can do this better.”

Their first event in Manchester was meant to be a one-off. Instead, it sold out and quickly turned into a full-fledged touring series.

Within two years, Craft Brew Festival has grown from two events to fifteen, with new locations added every season.

“We started with Manchester and Birmingham. The next year we did seven. Now we’re doing fifteen festivals a year, and we just keep adding more cities. If we find a city and a venue we like, we just go for it.”

Bringing big energy to smaller cities

Despite their earliest events taking place in Manchester and Birmingham, Craft Brew Festival doesn’t just stick exclusively to the UK's biggest cities.

With Lancaster and Wakefield among the recent additions to the ever-growing roster, Simon and his team are constantly on the lookout for new opportunities in places that might not usually host large-scale beer events.

"I know for our Lancaster event, we get quite a lot of people from Cumbria. So we are looking for a venue further north. Any data on customers – where they're buying from and how many times they're attending – helps with that decision-making."

It’s this commitment to accessibility and community that makes Craft Brew Festival so distinctive. And it’s paying off — both with festival-goers and with brewers.

“We’ve got a waiting list of breweries who want to take part. Word of mouth in the brewing industry travels fast, and everyone loves the audience we get.”

A beer festival for everyone

Craft Brew Festival has become known for creating an inclusive, welcoming environment — something Simon and Gareth are particularly proud of.

“Our audience is around 48% women, which beer festivals just don’t get.

"We get a lot of people who are new to craft beer. It’s a safe, friendly space where people can ask questions, try things, and just have a great time."

Partnering with FIXR to power growth

As the team gears up for their biggest year yet — including Christmas festivals in five cities, and a full summer schedule already in the works for 2026 — they’ve partnered with FIXR to help scale that growth.

“A big reason for choosing FIXR was the user experience. It’s so easy to use, and so easy to buy a ticket. From a customer perspective, it feels fast and simple – you’re not leaving our site at all. And for us, it integrates seamlessly.”

The partnership is about more than just tickets; it’s about growing together.

“As we expand, we need a strong partner to grow with us. We can definitely see FIXR helping us achieve what we want over the next few years.”

With a festive season on the horizon — complete with tinsel, tunes, and maybe even snow machines — the Craft Brew Festival team are already looking further ahead. They’re exploring international locations and planning their long-term dream: a festival weekend, every weekend, all year round.

At FIXR, we’re proud to work with organisers like Craft Brew Festival — people who bring creativity, energy, and community spirit to life.

Find out more and get tickets at craftbrewfestival.co.uk