Cheers! Raising a glass to real ale bonanza

Blackpool Beer and Cider Festival at the Winter Gardens. Pictured is Ann Shawcross.

With 100 beers nd ciders from microbreweries across the country, a “gin garden” featuring 20 types of gin and music from the famous Wurlitzer organ, the event was deemed a success by organiser Katie Jones of Real Ale Events.

She said: “We have run beer festivals for four years but this was the first we have done in Blackpool.

“It was wonderful and we will definitely be back for another one. Blackpool drank us dry.

Blackpool Beer and Cider Festival at the Winter Gardens. Pictured is Ray Jackson.

“The Wurlitzer is such a grand part of Blackpool that we just had to have some music from it during the festival.”

The three day festival also featured continental bottled lagers and prosecco.

Everyone attending got a half pint commemorative mug and a programme listing all the real ales on offer.

She said they had help from Blackpool’s branch of the Campaign For Real Ale with volunteers making the event go smoothly.

She added: “I would like to thank all the volunteers, Blackpool CAMRA and headline sponsors Lancaster Brewery who were delighted with the good turn out.”