REAL beer and cider lovers in Richmond have a new venue to look forward to for this year’s Richmond Ale Festival, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 7 and 8.

For the past 14 years, CAMRA – the Campaign for Real Ale – has organised the festival in the town’s Victorian Market Hall. This year, the 15th running of the event sees it make the move a short distance across the town to Richmondshire Cricket Club.

The event, which is free to enter, will provide a showcase for more than 30 beers and ciders, all created in time-honoured, traditional methods.

CAMRA member Vince Rutland, one of the volunteer organising team, said: “We are really looking forward to the new location and the cricket club has made us very welcome. “We’ve had a great run in the market hall but this move will mean a more comfortable venue for visitors to the festival.

"There is an outdoor terrace, and the building offers much better acoustics for the music. The free event will be open from 5pm to 11pm on Friday and noon until 11pm on Saturday.