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The Isle of Wight Classic Buses, Beer and Walks Weekend, better known as “Beer and Buses” ran for five years between 2014 and 2019. It was a collaboration of IW CAMRA (the Isle of Wight branch of the Campaign for Real Ale) and the Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum.
The original idea was the result of a coincidence. I met a new CAMRA member to the Island, Paul Sheldon who told me about an event in his home city of Sheffield. A vintage bus owned by the local branch would periodically drive round a circuit of pubs, a popular event for both the dozen or so members and the local pubs. About a week before this at a jazz evening, my friend and fellow bass-guitarist, Ben Bartam showed me a photograph of his new acquisition, a vintage bus.
I phoned Ben and asked him if he would be interested in using his bus for a similar event. He said he would have a think about it. A few days later he called me to tell me that he had arranged twelve buses. “Twelve! I was only planning for one”. A meeting at the Bargeman’s Rest was arranged with two representatives of the bus museum, Bill Ackroyd and Paul Wheeler, both CAMRA members. The bus museum already held an event in October, a “running day” where several of their buses would take to the road. It was decided to extend this to two days. The Beer and Buses Weekend was born.
The Isle of Wight Tourist Board (aka Visit Isle of Wight) was approached and gave us full support. However, they were slightly nervous about an event that combined transport and alcohol. We agreed to take the emphasis away from beer and named the event Classic Buses, Beer and Walks Weekend.
One problem we had to deal with was that to comply with the law, we could not charge the passengers. The event could not be run for “hire or reward”. The problem was solved by the sale of programmes. The participating pubs would pay for inclusion which would cover the printing costs. They could then recoup their investment by selling programmes. Each pub was given 10 programmes to cover their outlay. This took some considerable time and powers of persuasion but eventually 49 pubs were persuaded to take part (by 2019 over 100 pubs, clubs and venues took part).
The programmes not only gave details of the pubs but also routes and timetables. A timetable for a 2-day event takes exactly the same time to prepare as a 365 day service. Fortunately, Ben and his fellow bus enthusiasts were equipped for the task. Preparations started in late spring. Vintage bus owners from all over the country were contacted. Deals were struck with ferry companies and timetables were drawn up.
Eventually the day came. I turned up at Newport Quay to the spectacle of dozens of vintage buses driving round in what appeared to me to be a haphazard attempt to park and I thought “What the **** have I done?!!” I shouldn’t have worried though, the men from the bus museum were well prepared and soon the first bus was loaded up and on its way.
The day was a huge success as was the next day. I spent both days handing out beer lists, announcing bus departures and looking worried but did manage to sneak away for one crafty pint. Mind you I had several on the Sunday night after it was all over.
THE END OF BEER AND BUSES
Covid put pay to the 2020 and 2021 events. It also gave us gave us an opportunity to reflect on the stress and strains of previous events. We had known for some time that running the event with volunteers was unsustainable in the long run.
Initial enquiries made to mainland bus owners were disappointing. Many vintage buses had been laid up during the pandemic and some would never run again. Indeed, some of the older drivers had decided to call it a day.
Put simply, we were victims of our own success. We estimate that the 2019 event attracted 18,000 passengers. It was not unreasonable to expect 25,000 for the next one and the nightmare scenario would be too many passengers and not enough buses.
One rumour I would like to quash is that the event was cancelled due to alcohol fuelled bad behaviour. There have been tails of “punch ups” and drivers subjected to verbal abuse. I can find no evidence to support this. If there were any incidents, they must have been so insignificant that they warranted absolutely no comment or report.
The Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum continue to run events including one on the same weekend as Beer and Buses called “Wightrider”. This brings many participating buses coming over from the mainland. Of course, the Isle of Wight still has service buses care of Southern Vectis and loads of great pubs (check out wightwash.org.uk/find_a_pub). Why not come over and plan your own Beer and Buses Weekend?
