THE Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival will be putting the merry into May once again for real ale enthusiasts.After going from strength to strength in the three years it has been running, organisers are aiming to raise the bar again and make this year's festival the best yet.

THE Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival will be putting the merry into May once again for real ale enthusiasts.

After going from strength to strength in the three years it has been running, organisers are aiming to raise the bar again and make this year's festival the best yet.

The historic Priory Centre will once again play host to the three day festival over the Whitsun bank holiday weekend from Thursday, May 27 to Sunday, May 30.

Organised by the Yarmouth's award winning Blackfriars Brewery and Town Centre Partnership, the Mercury is proud to once again be the festival's media partner.

Pints of the best from more than 120 of Norfolk and Suffolk's best independent beer and cider makers are set to be on tap at the event.

Evening sessions will be accompanied by musical entertainment along with a range of tasty of tasty snacks from the Priory Caf� throughout the festival.

Last year attendances rose by 22pc and organisers are optimistic there will be another record turn-out in 2010.

For the first time home brewers will be able to enter a competition to have their tipples put to the test. Judges will vote on winner, receiving �100 worth of Blackfriars beers and brewing equipment.

Blackfriars owner Bill Russell said: “I don't know of any other beer festival that has a competition for home brewers so it something else adding to our unique appeal.

“People are already taking about the festival; there is a good feeling about it. We have had very positive feedback about last year's event it has become a successful part of the Yarmouth entertainment calendar.”

Advance tickets for the festival will be available through the Mercury - look out for coupons in forthcoming editions of the paper.