Mayor pulls first pint at Stratford Beer and Cider Festival

This year's Stratford Beer and Cider Festival has been officially opened by Stratford Mayor Cllr Juliet Short, who pulled the first pint at the event this afternoon.

Stratford’s 10 Beer and Cider Festival, organised by Shakespeare CAMRA, is taking place at Stratford Racecourse today and tomorrow.

With more than 70 beers and in excess of 30 ciders and perries available to try, the festival promises to be as popular as ever.

Like previous years the festival will raise money for the Shakespeare Hospice, which to date has benefitted to the tune of more than £8,000 from the festival.

As the festival was opened a cheque for £510 was presented to the Shakespeare Hospice, raised by donations of unused drinks tokens from last year’s festival.

This year the event will follow the theme: ‘Wales, the West and the Best’ and will celebrate Welsh and West Country brewery ales and ciders, as well as local ales.