Returning for its 34th year, the Colchester Real Ale and Cider Festival is a perfect way to spend a weekend in the summer. Ran by the Campaign for Real Ale Colchester branch, the festival is held at the Colchester Arts Centre featuring plenty of local breweries.

Visitors can enjoy an excellent selection of real ale and real cider as well as English wine and foreign beer. With over 30 real ales and 15 ciders, the majority will be from the local area with breweries from the Colchester and Essex area. Look out for brewers including Cambridge Brewhouse, Colchester Brewery, Chelmsford Brew Co, Other Monkey, Watsons, Mile Tree and many more. There will also be soft drinks for those who do not drink or for the designated drivers.

To help soak up all that ale there will be hot and cold snacks and food throughout the day and pop up kitchens on the evening will serve food from local food vendors. Plus there will be live music to add to the atmosphere of this fun event. So make sure you attend this festival to discover the exciting world of real ale. Visit with friends, work colleagues, family or your partner and enjoy sampling and drinking delicious ale and cider together.