Nailsea's beer festival returns for sixth year

A huge variety of tipples will be on offer at the annual Nailsea and Backwell Beer and Cider Festival.

The event, now in its sixth year, is taking place on July 10, 11 and 12 at Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club.

This year all proceeds from the ale fest will go to Children's Hospice South West.

The charity, which runs Charlton Farm Hospice in Wraxall, provides vital care for children and their families across the South West, who are living with life limiting or life threatening conditions.

As well as the sale of more than 60 beers and ciders, all sponsored by local individuals and businesses, there will be live music on two of the days and a number of stalls and family attraction.

The band line-up has yet to be finalised, but as in previous years this will be local bands, all of whom give their time for nothing to help support the charity. Already signed up to play are The Somerset Paddies, Dicey Rileys and Fat Salad.

Co-organiser Paul Turner, who has been involved with the festival since the first event, said: "We are now organising our sixth festival, which continues to be very popular not only with the local community but we have people attending from Gloucestershire, Wales and Devon."

The festival has raised £25,000 for local charities since the annual event started. Last year it attracted around 2,000 people and raised £4,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre in Nailsea.

Mr Turner added "The festival has grown substantially since we started, and in addition to more beers and ciders, we now have a stage for the live music and many new stalls and side attractions for all the family.

"We are now finding this event is one of the first in people's calendars and is a becoming very popular and well known in North Somerset."

Tickets are priced at £6.50 in advance and are available in Nailsea from Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club, West End Park, Corner Stores, John Brown's and Gilly's Café.

Details of other places to buy tickets and directions are on the website www.applefest.co.uk. Tickets cost £8 on the day, including entry for all three days, a commemorative glass and the first drink.