Here for the beer

The 8th Eastbourne Beer Festival is underway at the Winter Garden, and already smashing attendance records.

The festival, organised by Eastbourne Borough Council in association with CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), sells out every year as thirsty drinkers descend on the Sussex coast. Over 13,000 pints of beer alone were consumed at last year's festival, as well as 2,100 bottled beers and 1,400 pints of cider and perry.

This year's ticket sales are currently 200 up on last year's festival, with all but one session long sold out. The council's Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley, said, 'These astounding ticket sales are fantastic news for Eastbourne Beer Festival and testament to the event's popularity attracting more and more visitors every year. With Friday night and Saturday night both selling out over the past few years, it is brilliant that the opening night has matched the success, with yesterday evening's session seeing real ale fans spilling into the Winter Garden to enjoy the first samples of the full casks.'

The only tickets left are for tomorrow's (Saturday) daytime session, which also features live music from Band Of Two, a dancing masterclass from the Long Man Morris, traditional pub games and a Big Pub Quiz.

Tickets cost £4.50, available from the Winter Garden box office on 01323 412000.