AN HISTORIC pub which re-opened after 11 years is to have its first beer and cider festival.

The Live & Let Live pub in Bringsty Common, near Bromyard, Herefordshire, is hosting the festival over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The festival will mark the first six months since the pub re-opened.

The event is supported by Bringsty Common locals and volunteers from Herefordshire CAMRA, who jointly fought off four planning applications that would have seen the 16th century Grade II-listed ex-cider house converted into a private home.

The pub, known for its commanding views of the Malvern Hills, reopened in November 2007.

Owner Sue Dovey hopes that if the festival is a success that it will be repeated in future years.

Beer and cider from the local area will be sold at the festival and a pig roast will also take place.

Mark Haslam of Herefordshire Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) says: "As Herefordshire's only thatched pub, the unique and charming Live & Let Live is a great rural location to hold a beer and cider festival, with its uninterrupted views towards the Malverns. We are quietly confident that it will be a success."

The event starts at 6pm on Friday, May 2 and runs all day Saturday and Sunday, and then into Bank Holiday Monday.

For those not wishing to drive the no 420 Hereford-Bromyard-Worcester bus stops nearby, and camping is available on-site for the whole weekend.

For more details go on-line at: www.liveandletlive-bringsty.co.uk or ring Sue on 01886 821462.