The Big Fortified Tasting 2026 - volunteers welcome

[Alex Bridgeman]

The 2026 edition of the bft is being held in the Riverside Room on the 3rd floor of the IET, 2 Savoy Place, WC2R 0BL on Monday 23rd March. Set up starts at 9am. We close to visitors at 4pm and need to have cleared the building by 5pm.

As in previous years, it is a trade only event and being a member of The Port Forum is, sadly, not enough of a link to the trade to qualify to visit the show.

Happily, as in previous years, we would be extremely grateful for help on the day to run the show: set-up and break-down masterclasses, cover reception, runners to support the exhibitors and to give SWS a hand to shift equipment and returns down to the loading bay at the end of the show.

Anyone willing and able to work half a day (morning or afternoon) as an unpaid volunteer is then welcome to spend the half of the day not working mingling with the producers and (subject to availability) participating in a Highlight Session. (We'll also cover reasonable travel expenses from within the UK.)

If anyone is interested, willing and able to work for a full day, I'll happily pay the day rate that is paid to other staff we bring in from outside but your opportunities to mingle with the producers will be more limited.

If of interest to anyone, please let me know by email or PM. Any and all help will be very, very welcome.

Thank you.

[jdaw1]

As ever, willing to help.