The Medway Beer Festival is under way and it features the biggest collection of bottled 2013 Belgian Christmas beers in the UK.

The three-day event started on Thursday at the Stanley Ballroom at St George Hotel in Gundulph Road, Chatham.

Event organiser John Brice – who runs the King George V in Brompton – said: "We have more than 220 beers and ciders on sale, and that’s far more than ever before.

"As well as the 50 real ales, we have a dozen ciders and almost 100 Belgian beers.

"Our Christmas selection is the biggest by far in the UK at the moment.

"I went to Bruges on Monday to see what was available, and returned with 30 [beers].

"That’s an incredible amount so early before Christmas."

There is also a stall with a collection of around 80 bottled Kent ales for people to buy and take home.

That is probably more Kent bottled beers in one place than has ever been achieved before.

The real ales at the festival include 10 from Kent producers that have sent brewers along to talk to drinkers.

Cider makers from Magic Bus, which was created in Chatham, and Longtail from Higham will also be on hand to talk to festival-goers.

Doors open on Friday and Saturday at 11am, and last orders are at 11pm.

Medway Messenger readers can use a voucher in tomorrow's paper to get £1 off the entry fee.