THE famous Bolton Beer Festival is set to return to the town after a three year break.

The Bolton branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is getting ready to announce the revival of the traditional festival which ran for seven years until 1993.

In 1994 the festival fell victim to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Silverwell Street sports and exhibition centre.

Despite a frantic search for a new venue the festival never took place that year. At the time alternatives such as rooms in Bolton town hall or even marquees pitched on Leverhulme Park were suggested but none of them proved acceptable.

But now Bolton CAMRA are confident of setting up a new event next Spring in the town at a new venue.

Local branch secretary Richard Spedding said: "We can't make a detailed announcement just yet, but it seems like months of extremely hard work will soon come up with a positive result."

Anyone who wants to get involved with the organisation of the proposed beer festival or wants any information about membership of Bolton CAMRA can call Mr Spedding on Bolton 653924.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.