SOUGHT-AFTER tickets for the 41st annual Farnham Beerex, taking place from April 27 to 29 at the Maltings, will go on sale on Sunday, March 5.

The longest running English beer festival to take place in the same venue, every year Beerex attracts thousands of real ale enthusiasts from far and wide to enjoy its wide selection of beer, cider, perries, food and entertainment.

Last year’s 40th anniversary event was a ‘sell out’, enjoyed by more than 5,000 visitors who almost drank the event dry and in the process helped raise a record £40,000 for charity.

This added to the £850,000-plus raised by ‘drinking for charity’ since 1977; every penny of which has been used by co-organisers the Farnham Lions to support ‘local good causes’ whether they be individuals, families or organisations that need help.

Tickets will go on sale from 8am to 10am on March 5 at the Maltings. However, they usually sell fast and most are sold by 9am with many people queueing from the early hours.

Some Thursday tickets will be available online from the Maltings’ or Farnham Lions’ websites from March 10. More details are available online at www.farnhamlions.org.uk/beerex.

There will be more than 60 ales available including a special ‘Kent Ales bar’, a wide range of ciders and perries that are growing in popularity each year, great food and lots of entertainment.

This year there will be five bands, kicking off with the New Hawleans Jug Band on Thursday evening, DisCover on Friday and on Saturday lunchtime the Gambit Jazzmen.

On Saturday evening Jonas and Jane will make their Beerex debut followed later by the True Deceivers, also at Beerex for the first time.

The Farnham Beerex is organised jointly by the Lions and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and is one of the highlights in the ‘real ale festivals calendar’, enjoyed by some who claim to have attended every one, many who have attended most and a lot who experience it for the first time.

All are welcome as long as they have a ticket and are over 18. Tickets cost £10 and include a souvenir glass and programme.