I've long been a film buff and jumped at the chance to attend a festival just along the road in the ancient capital of Scotland. The Outwith Festival was launched in Dunfermline a couple of years ago and features a programme of music, theatre, cinema and more. I happened to spot a Facebook post from Dunfermline microbrewery Seven Kings, announcing they were operating a pop-up bar at the film sessions in the library/museum.
I was already sold and a perusal of the cinema guide revealed an independent Scottish flick showing on the Thursday evening at 17.45. The time slot fitted my homeward commute perfectly and Nicole wanted to come too. We met up in the library and headed upstairs. The bar area was well appointed with four pumps in action. I had already seen three of the ales in the Commercial Inn the previous week and tried two of them. Seven Kings have just come on-stream and it's good to see the brewery penetrate the local market. I opted for a pint of their pale ale (Fallen King) and chatted with the brewmaster who turned out to be a rather pleasant chap. He drew my attention to the fourth pump - a cask conditioned lager. You don't see many of them around but I was of course willing to give it a try. I finished off my first pint and took the lager into the auditorium. It was a lovely brew and I would definitely drink it again. There were around 25 people present, not bad considering the movie was a crowdfunded venture and being shown at a time when many people are on their way home from work or eating dinner. There was a short interview with the director/producer/writer who talked about the travails of raising the finance. The initial flurry of donations slowed to a trickle but fortunately a late surge knocked the project over the line. Then there was the issue of selling a film centred on male mental health to the distributors. However, it transpired that a few art-houses around had taken a punt.
The movie was eminently watchable and a good effort considering the tight budget. The extra pint had a predictable effect on the old bladder and I had to nip out to the loo midway through. A great evening out at a fair price. A fiver admission and £3.50 for an ale. The only way these festivals will ever return is if folk get out and support them and I was pleased to have done my bit. I like the fact that local beers are now seen as a key component of community-based gatherings and it exposes the produce to those who don't frequent real-ale pubs. I read on the Seven Kings Facebook page that business at the bar had been brisk over the four-day event. Afterwards there was time for a stroll around the museum gardens which back on to Abbot House - the oldest building in Dunfermline. Unfortunately it has been closed to the public for a few years following a dispute over the lease. A side effect of this wrangle was the closure of the excellent little brewery that operated in one of the outhouses and whose owner - the affable John Reid - always gave a warm welcome to those who stuck their heads around the door. On a more positive note, I hear the wheels are currently in motion regarding the reopening of the historic house to the public.
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