Dudley Winter Ales event to go ahead

The 32nd annual event is to take place in Dudley Town Hall from November 23 to 25.

The Dudley and South Staffordshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale held a 'viability' meeting in the Park Inn, Woodsetton, on Wednesday to establish if enough support was available to stage the beer festival.

Last year's event nearly didn't go ahead because of many older members stepping down from the organising committee.

The branch has appointed Karl Denning to be the festival organiser and has filled several of the main organising roles.

Branch chairman Ryan Hunt said that there was still a need to get more branch members actively involved in the winter ales fair this year.

He said it needed younger members to support some of the experienced festival team and learn their roles so they could take over in the long term.

Mr Denning urged branch members to come along to the first festival committee meeting on Monday, July 31, in the Park Inn again at 8pm.

"We particularly need more people to volunteer to help with setting up the festival and taking it down as well as manning the bar over the three days," he added.

"People should check the branch website as well and fill in the online volunteering form."

The branch hopes to host the West Midlands Camra barley wine and beer of the year competitions at the winter ales fair.

More than 80 cask beers will once again be featured as well as ciders, wine and bottled international beer.