WORCESTER’S Hopmarket will be hosting its first ever hop festival later this month.

The retail space on The Foregate will celebrate all things hops on Saturday, September 21.

The day will include an art exhibition in the old tailor shop at the corner of The Hopmarket and The Foregate,and the chance for poets to perform their works.

A hop-based cocktail bar will be run by a team from The Paul Pry pub, and Nigel Smith from The Cardinal’s Hat, will be offering visitors a variety of ales.

Hop merchant Charles Faram will present a know-your-hops session covering six different hop varieties, and curators from Museums Worcestershire will be on hand to illustrate local hop growing, brewing and pubs around Worcester; there will also be images of artworks from the museum’s collections including Hopfields under Snow by Mary Joyce Austin and scenes from a hop growing year by John Kent.

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There will also be a range of historic photographs on show including Worcestershire hop pickers working in the fields, connecting the museum’s collections with the history of The Hopmarket.

And children from The River School will be designing posters to accompany a hop related fun facts quiz on the day.

Bill Simpson, trustee at the Hopmarket Charitable Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be hosting our first ever hop festival.

"The Hopmarket traditionally held a hop fair on September 19 every year so our event is a timely one, being held on the 21st.

"The courtyard has a rich hop history with an amazing 50,000 pockets of hops being sold to dealers every year.

"Such was its importance that – outside of London – it was the only authorized hop market in the country in the year 1796.

"Our event will pay homage to the humble hop, offering a modern-day twist and a plentiful supply of art and culture as well. We look forward to welcoming you!”

The Hopmarket has been a place to do business since 1731 where dealers came to trade hops.