LOVERS of good beer and great times rejoice as the Bolton CAMRA Beer Festival 2018 arrives this weekend.

The annual festival will showcase the best brews from across the town, region and country, with over 50 real ales, ciders and perries.

The event will run at Bolton Ukrainian Club in Castle Street between April 26 and 28.

Also featuring across the weekend are a KeyKeg Bar, local meads, soft drinks and snacks in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Among the breweries showing beers at the festival are Bolton’s Bank Top, Vibrant Forest from Lymington, Tiny Rebel from Newport and Weird beard from London.

This year the event will also boast four exclusive collaboration beers brewed especially for the festival, including All on Black coffee stout from Black Edge Brewery and Black Jack Beers, Home and Rye pale red rye IPA from Brewsmith and Rivington Brewing Co., and Kaka New Zealand pale ale from Squawk Brewing Co. and Runaway Brewery.

There will also be three food vendors over the festival, Mama Sue, Nkono, and Pretzel and Spelt; cooking up a storm with Soul Food from the Deep South, contemporary African street food and pretzels and other Bavarian baked goodies.

The festival is open from 3.30pm to 10.30pm on Thursday, 12pm to 10.30pm on Friday, and 12pm to 8pm on Saturday.

Entry is £2, or £3 after 5.30pm on Friday, plus £3 for a refundable glass hire, and CAMRA members get in for free.

The event is over 18s only, except Saturday before 7pm, and will support Bolton Hospice.

For more information visit www.boltonbeerfestival.org.uk or follow the festival on social media.