Hartlepool is to play host to a true nautical experience when a rum festival hits the town at the site of one of North East’s premier tourist attractions.
The National Museum of the Royal Navy has announced that it is to host the inaugural Hartlepool Rum Festival at the site of HMS Trincomalee, Britain’s oldest warship still afloat, in the summer.
As part of the festival, the quayside at Jackson Dock, in the town, will be authentically recreated, with the festivities taking place on board HMS Trincomalee and across the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool site.
There will be a large selection of rums available to sample during the event, with Alnwick Rum and Pusser’s Rum already confirmed, and further brands are set to be announced ahead of the festival.
There will also be a number of rum-related masterclasses over the course of the evening and live entertainment.
The festival is to take place on Saturday, 11th August from 7.30pm-11pm at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool. Tickets cost £20.
Following the success of a rum festival held at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Portsmouth, the charity has decided to bring the event up North.
Rachel Shepherd, Events Manager at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said: “We are excited to bring a rum festival to Hartlepool, following the success we have enjoyed in Portsmouth with similar events. The iconic HMS Trincomalee provides the perfect venue and the entire quayside will be recreated to make for an evening of entertainment and the opportunity for people to sample a selection of rum, from many popular brands.
HMS Trincomalee, which celebrated her bicentenary in 2017, forms part of The National Museum of the Royal Navy’s historic fleet, alongside Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, submarine HMS Alliance and Belfast’s First World War survivor HMS Caroline.
“It is shaping up to be another exciting year in Hartlepool with many events planned throughout the year, building on the success of HMS Trincomalee’s bicentenary celebrations last year.”
For further information about the Hartlepool Rum Festival, or to purchase tickets, visit: http://www.hartlepoolrumfestival.co.uk