The Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival returns to St George’s Theatre next month for a weekend celebration of real ale, ciders and live music.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: GY Beer festivalGY Beer festival (Image: Archant)

This will be the town’s 10th consecutive annual beer festival since the event was first held in the Noble Hall of the Priory Centre in 2007.

And in this week’s Mercury there is a special code for readers to quote to get discounted tickets!

Having spent its first few years at the Priory Centre, the festival has also been held in the Drill Hall on York Road and at the former Blackfriars brewery, now the home of the Lacons visitor centre, at The Courtyard on Main Cross road, before taking residence at St George’s Theatre in 2013.

When the festival opens at 5pm on Thursday, May 19, over 50 real ales and ciders will be available, many of them award-winning brews selected from a host of brewers both regional and national. Lacons Brewery will again be supporting the festival, assisting Beer Sommelier Day Harvey in the selection of ales and ciders and providing the racking and cooling equipment to ensure the beers are kept at their optimum over the weekend.

The festival will be open for a number of lunch and evening sessions starting with the opening on Thursday, May 19 at 5pm, a lunchtime (11am to 3pm) and evening (5pm to 11pm) sessions on both Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21, finishing with a lunchtime session (11am to 3pm) on Sunday, May 23.

As in previous years, live music will play an important part of the festival, making use of the acoustics, stage and sound facilities provided by the theatre. There will also be food and snacks available in the pavilion next door along with a selection of alternative refreshments and, weather permitting, tables and chairs for festival goers to enjoy their food and beer outside.

Advance tickets for all sessions are now available through the St George’s Theatre booking office with prices varying from £3 to £5 depending on the session attended.