PILSNER FEST 163: EVEREYTHING FOR VISITOR COMFORT
23.9.2005 Pilsner UrquellThe celebrations for Plzensky Prazdroj’s anniversary are launched with an attempt to beat the record toast set in 2003.
This year, the end of September and beginning of October will once again be set aside for the Pilsner Fest, the celebration of Plzensky Prazdroj’s 163rd anniversary and the first brew of Pilsner Urquell. From Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October 2005 the traditional festival, full of excellent entertainment and the world-famous beer, will be held inside the grounds of the Pilsen brewery. The Pilsner Fest is being held in this form for the fifth time and has won a firm place in the calendar of Pilsen cultural and social events. Before moving to the brewery, an attempt will be held on Friday afternoon in the Square of the Republic to defeat the world record for the beer toast with the largest number of people. The previous record, which is in the Guinness Book of Records, was set in 2003 by the people of Pilsen.
More than 90 per cent of visitors to previous Pilsner Fests who took part in research gauging levels of satisfaction stated that they couldn’t imagine the event taking place anywhere else than in the brewery. The organisers thus sought this year to make the best use possible of the brewery courtyard and adjoining areas. The total space set aside for the stages, food tents, bars and attractions has increased substantially to almost 20 000 m2. The tours of the brewery and Brewery Museum have also been extended.
Vladimir Jurina, manager of the Plzensky Prazdroj, company brand, stresses that: “We have concentrated on ensuring the smoothest possible movement of tens of thousands of people through the brewery’s limited grounds. Thanks to the reconstruction of the area in front of the new brew house we have gained both a quiet area for visitors to relax and the possibility to create an area looking towards the river Radbuza. Those who don’t want to stay in the main area can relax in the space called Seating by the Brew House, or can enjoy the attractions for the whole family located in the bottom part of the courtyard.”
The Old Bohemian Fair, which originally was in the centre of the courtyard, is also being moved to the river. There, in the direction from the gate to the main stage area, there will be a so-called beer zone with Spilka restaurant pavilion and a host of stands with refreshments and bars. These will be located along the entire route in order as far as possible to prevent queues. Beer will flow from a total of 44 beer taps for 26 crowns a half-litre. Entrance to the brewery grounds for the Pilsner Fest is free of charge.
The Pilsner Fest is part of the joint activities of Plzensky Prazdroj and the city of Pilsen aimed at supporting and developing tourism. It offers a quality and attractive programme for all generations and attracts thousands of people to the brewery, not only from Pilsen but also from the wider surroundings, as well as fans of Pilsner Urquell beer from all over the Czech Republic and abroad.
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- The traditional series of concerts in the Pilsen brewery’s courtyard, which takes place from June to September 2005 under the title Summer with Prazdroj, was visited by 26,000 people. The festival also gave space to young Pilsen bands and supported the Tourist Olympics in Pilsen.
- Plzensky Prazdroj’s activities for visitors to Pilsen and the Pilsen brewery include the Visitor Centre in the brewery courtyard, the visitor route, Na Spilce restaurant and the Brewery Museum in the centre of the city with traditional pub Na Parkanu.
Pilsen