ONE of Worcester’s most popular annual events is just two months away and looks to be bigger and better than ever this year.

This year’s Worcester Beer, Cider and Perry Festival will be held at its usual location at Worcester Racecourse from Thursday, August 6 until Saturday, August 8.

The annual festival is the 16th run by the city’s branch of the Campaign for Real Ale – better known as CAMRA – and will offer more than 170 ales and 100 ciders and perries as well as food and live music.

Last year’s event proved so successful, with more than 13,900 visitors, it had to close early on Saturday evening.

But a spokesman from the city’s CAMRA branch said measures had been put in place to ensure this would not happen this year.

“Firstly, the hours that the festival will be open have been slightly reduced and secondly, and more importantly, the attendance numbers for each day are going to be strictly controlled,” he said. “Why is this more important? It means that once the numbers for that day have been reached the festival will not be letting any more people in.

“And if tickets sold in advance reach the numbers then you won’t be able to get into the festival without a ticket.

“Consequently, to ensure entry you need to buy a ticket in advance.”

Other changes being put in place this year include a return to running a number of separate food outlets rather than a single food court as was tried last year and vouchers used in previous years to exchange for drinks are being replaced with a single card with monetary amounts printed on it.

The festival will run from 5pm until 11pm on August 6, midday until 11pm on August 7 and midday until 10pm the following day, with live music on both Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday.

Worcester CAMRA is also appealing for volunteers to help out with pulling pints, running food stalls and setting up the event.

For more information, to buy tickets or to volunteer visit www.worcesterbeerfest.org.uk.