Ashbourne Beer Festival 2007!!

History

The Green Man Royal Hotel

Royal Shrovetide Football

The Green Man Royal Hotel hosts the pre-game lunch before the ancient game of Royal Shrovetide Football. The game is one of the oldest forms of football still played today in the streets of the town. It is played on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday every year. The game is played between two teams, the "Up'ards" and the "Down'ards". Qualification for each team depends on which side of the River Henmore you were born. North of the river qualifies you for the "Up'ards" and south of the river, "Down'ards". The goals are set 3 miles apart, one at Sturston and one at Clifton. The "Up'ards" goal the ball at Sturston and the "Down'ards" at Clifton. It is an enormous occasion in the town and brings people from all around the world. The Green Man has its own guest ales especially for Shrovetide. They are brewed by Leatherbritches in Fenny Bently. One ale is named "Up'ards", one "Down'ards" and one the wednesday a beer was named after the scorer Richard 'Tate' Slater, "Slater's Ale". Another special shrovetide ale at the Green Man over the 2 days of play in 2007 was "Ball's Up" brewed by Tollgate brewery in Derby.

See the board of scorers

You can find more information and photographs from the BBC website.

The Ashbourne Town website

Royal Shrovetide Football

Owners and Licencees of the Green Man Royal Hotel

The Green Man Royal Hotel, 10 St. John's Street, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1GH. Tel:01335 345783 Email: Info@GMRH.com