FARNHAM Beerex fever hit last Sunday when more than 140 fans queued through the night to buy tickets for the event, which takes place from April 27 to 29 at the Maltings.

Tickets went on sale from 8am to 10am and Robin Thompson, from Walton on Thames, who was first through the doors last year, was once more at the head of the queue, having set up camp at around 11.30pm the night before.

Phil Williams from Farnham Lions, which mounts the festival jointly with CAMRA, said: “Despite the awful weather there were still around 140 people in the queue, including people who had driven from the south coast and Wiltshire.

“I did ask many of them if they would like to see the tradition of queueing maintained and the answer, even after a night of rain, was a clear ‘yes’.

“The Saturday lunchtime was the first session to sell out. Only Thursday tickets are now available and can be purchased via the Maltings box office or Farnham Lions website.”

Farnham’s 41st Beerex is also the longest running English 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 and every penny has been used by Farnham Lions to support local good causes.

Some Thursday tickets will be available online from March 10. For more information go to www.farnhamlions.org.uk/beerex.