Thousands log in from across globe for 30-hour livestreamed Hartlepool Beer Festival

Hartlepool Round Table chairman Luke Anderson with quiz contestant Bev Hart and Tracie Bestford from 1 Heart, 1 Mind, 1 Future.

The 14 fundraising friends at Hartlepool Round Table had to put their thinking caps on when the coronavirus pandemic meant they could not hold their usual beer festival at The Borough Hall with hundreds enjoying a drink and live entertainment.

Instead they ran a 30-hour internet broadcast featuring lots of live music, fun and games.

Thousands of people logged in to the event from home and all over the world.

Left to right: Luke Anderson chairman of Hartlepool Round Table, Dr Andy Simpson winning quiz contestant and also RNLI doctor, and RNLI crew member Chandler Wilson.

It included a version of TV gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire with the weekend’s two winning contestants earning £1,000 for the charity of their choice.

They were Hartlepool RNLI lifeboat service and 1 Heart, 1 Mind, 1 Future – a parent and carer forum for children with special needs – with the round table generously rounding the prizes up to £1,500 each.

The online beer festival took place the same weekend that the traditional event was due to take place on October 9 and 10.

Luke Anderson, chairman of Hartlepool Round Table, said: “It was only when one of the guys said, look we can do this, we can make this happen, the town needs this, that we decided we had to go through after all the planning and hard work.”

It included live music from Hartlepool lads James Hewitson, Fantastic Finlay, Pek and Wanley, Electric Sheep and former festival favourites Fizzy Fish.

Other events included versions of popular TV shows and features from Taskmaster, Bullseye, Telly Addicts and I’m A Celebrity style bush tucker challenge.

Matthew Goodrick, vice chair of the round table believed it could not have gone any better.

He said: “The feedback we have had from people watching throughout the weekend has been brilliant, with viewers coming from all over the world.

"But it was hard, 30 hours with no sleep was no joke, and by the end of the event we were all ready for our bed.”

The event was so successful that the group will look at whether of not to repeat it.

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