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News from the Geopark

Book early for Beer Festival

Real ale fans from across South Devon will be flocking to a farmyard next weekend for a beer festival with an outdoor flavour.

Seven hundred people have already signed up to attend the fourth annual Beer Festival at Occombe Farm, Paignton.

And among the beers they will be sampling is an exclusive English Riviera Geopark Ale which has been named Bays Beery Head by competition winners who will enjoy VIP passes to the event. Altogether, there will be more than 60 beers from Devon, Cornwall and Somerset to sample on Friday and Saturday including sponsors Bay Brewery's Devon Dumpling launched next month.

Last year around 4,000 visitors flocked to the major fundraising event for Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and similar numbers are expected this year.

Organiser Rachel Tapper, from the trust, said: "Each year the public response to our beer festival grows and grows, it's incredible - we even have people planning their holidays around it.

"Each year we learn from the year before and are listening to what the public want - which is why this year there will be more cider, more perry, more beer, more music and a Pimm's bar. An extra field is also being used. We are also lucky to have the support and guidance of South Devon Campaign for Real Ale at the event."

Live music comes from 59 Ford on Friday evening, playing traditional rock and roll from the 50s, 60s and 70s. During the Saturday, musicians Reece and Smith will take to the stage, followed by Three Bags Full and finally Duke Johnson and The Scorchers return for the third successive year to play their mix of classic rock through the decades to the present day.

Admission is £4, including a souvenir pint glass and free return admission the following day. The festival starts at 4.30pm Friday June 5, until 11pm. The following day it is open from 11am to 11pm.

Tickets are also available in advance as attendance is limited to 5,000, so there is a risk late arrivals will be turned away. A free shuttle bus runs from Torquay harbourside or Paignton bus station from 5pm each evening. Those arriving by car should follow signs to the nearby newly designated parking field at Marldon. For more details see www.occombe.org.uk/beerfestival/