MORE than 70 different ales and ciders are on offer at the sixth annual Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival this weekend.

The celebration of local brews - featuring many from Yarmouth’s own Blackfriars Brewery - is being held at the Drill Hall on York Road until Sunday.

Among the tipples on offer are the multi-award winning Yarmouth Bitter.

Other brewers returning to the annual festival include Buffy’s, Elgoods, Ole Slewfoot, Green Jack, Woodfordes and Humpty Dumpty brewery who will bringing their ‘one-off’ beer Big Sharpie – a stronger version of their best selling session bitter, Little Sharpie - to celebrate their 500th brew at their micro-brewery in Reedham.

There will also be a number of brewers new the festival including Panther, Mauldons, Brandon, Adnams, Nethergate breweries and from London’s East End the Cockney named Beavertown Brewery.

It has been a labour of love for Day Harvey who has been recruiting the breweries for the past six weeks.

He said: “It’s been fun speaking to all the local breweries as I’m absolutely passionate about beer, where it comes from, how it’s stored, handled and served, I am making every effort to make sure the beers and ciders reach the festival goers in perfect condition.”

Mr Harvey has just returned from the West Country where he has added to the range of local ciders that will be on tap at the Festival including Norfolk’s own Burnards cider from Banham.

Now with a a range of traditional scrumpy, The Governor cider created by Marco Pierre White and the latest ‘Twisted’ fruit ciders being served as well, there will be something for everyone to try.

Her worship the Mayor of Great Yarmouth delared the festival open last night, arriving on Woodfordes’ traditional Horse and Dray.

The festival is open from 11am to 3.00pm and 5pm to 11pm today and tomorrow, finishing with a lunch time session midday to 3pm on Sunday.

Tickets can be bought on the door.

To view a photo gallery of the festival, click the link to the top right of this story.