Weymouth’s premier beer festival is set to return: now in it’s 20th year, organised by volunteers from The West Dorset Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) who are currently celebrating the Branch’s Golden anniversary.

The festival will once again be held in Weymouth’s Pavilion Ocean Room over the weekend of Friday 16th and Saturday 17th October, with seating for over 300 customers and with spectacular views over Weymouth Bay.

As it’s the festival’s 20th year organisers wanted to reflect on the first ever festival with a return to beers from the West Country. Bar manager Rich Gabe said ”Since we first took over the running of the festival the beer and brewery market has drastically changed and not always for the better. As there are so many breweries within the original West Country counties of 20 years ago we have decided to concentrate on beers from Cornwall, Devon and Dorset this year and Dorset, Somerset & Wiltshire next year. There will be breweries we have never had at Weymouth before alongside well respected favourites”.

In total there will be over 50 cask conditioned ales and 12 traditionally produced ciders and Perries.

The festival sees a welcome return by Dorchester-based Copper Street Brewery who are currently establishing new premises in Dorchester on the grove with 1799 the former army hospital. Copper Street has previously sponsored two past bars. Copper Street owner and brewer Alistair Burrell said “I am really looking forward to getting the brewery back on-line in its new location of 1799; and to seeing familiar and new faces at the event; there are some surprises on the horizon”.