Beer and cider lovers are preparing to flock to Warwick to sample some of the best tipples the UK has to offer at this year’s beer festival. 

More than 2,500 people are expected to descend on Warwick Racecourse for the biggest ever Warwick Beer, Cider and Music Festival on Friday, 21 July and Saturday, 22 July.

The two-day event, organised by historic group Warwick Court Leet, is set to feature around 85 different barrelled beers and over 30 unique ciders.

That is a 20 per cent increase in beer and 40 per cent increase in cider available compared to the 2016 festival.

Ale aficionados will have the chance to sample CAMRA award-winning beers from a mixture of small and large breweries across England, Scotland and Wales.

The stand-out offering will be Fernandes Brewery’s Black Voodoo, the Yorkshire micro-brewery only sells five barrels a month of their prized beer and one of those will be in Warwick – with 72 pints available.

There will be hot food available and music across the two days, including live performances on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

Last year’s festival raised more than £10,000 for local charities and causes and organisers are hoping to raise even more this year.

This is the eighth year of the festival and the third year it has been organised by Warwick Court Leet.

Alan Lettis, one of the organisers of the festival, said: “We’re very much looking forward to this year and seeing everyone down at Warwick Racecourse to sample the huge selection we have available.

“This has become a very popular event for beer and cider lovers, we have seen connoisseurs travel from across the country to visit us and we have had to increase the amount of alcohol we have due to the high demand.

“It’s a fantastic location to host it, there is nothing better than sitting there on the Friday evening with a glass of beer as the sun goes down over the racecourse. It should be a fantastic couple of days.”

Andre Klein, General Manager at Warwick Racecourse, added: “We’re delighted to welcome back Warwick Court Leet’s beer, cider and music festival to the racecourse for another year.

“It is a hugely successful event, which also raises significant funds for good causes and in more than one way this should be the biggest beer festival yet in Warwick.”

Gates open from 4pm to 10pm on July 21 and from 12noon to 10pm on July 22.

Charitable groups in the borough of Warwick can bid for grants from the money raised at the event at http://www.warwickbeerfestival.co.uk/contact-form/

Tickets cost £5, including a free commemorative glass, for more information visit www.warwickbeerfestival.co.uk