ENTHUSIASM AND SMILES made up for the cloudy skies at Harveys Brewery Yard on this morning. Lewes was thronging with weekend shoppers and sightseers, and when we arrived early so we thought, the dancing and drinking was in full swing.

David, Frazer, Tom and John

Each visitor was handed a non-breakable glass on arrival at the gateway to the yard and directed to rows of barrels of the precious new brew of Old Ale. No chance of a sunstruck nose on this day but the mouth feel was generally appreciated by our party, many of whom are critical professionals in the brewing arts.

The weather eventually chose to close the antique antics of the Morris Sides and their musicians, and the rows of barrels now stood empty and spent, so everyone ducked under umbrellas and headed for lunch in the nearby Harveys pubs. The Morris Men and Women and their supporters repaired to the crowded John Harvey Tavern for a complimentary and well-deserved "slap-up" feed, and The British Beard Club party took steps into Cliffe as last year to The Dorset.

Lunches were ordered and waited for - and waited for - and almost arrived but then didn't. Some time passed and some kitchen crisis seemed to have been resolved and the waiting for the waitress was over as she came laden with plates and platters. Unlike the Edouard Manet Folies Bergère painting, in the mirror you can't see the artist, or in this case the lovely Liz taking the picture, but here we are doing what The British Beard Club members do well - eating, drinking and smiling.

Nigel, Charlie, Frazer, John, David and Tom do lunch, and Liz is behind the camera

Best Bearded Regards

David

Photos on this page are Copyright © 2010 Liz Faulkner and The British Beard Club