MERTON Farm in Canterbury hosts the 34th annual Kent Beer Festival from this evening (Thursday).

6,000 real ale fans are expected to attend the event, which runs through until Saturday night.

Friday night’s session is already sold out, but tickets are still available for Thursday night and Saturday.

130 real ales and ciders from across the UK will be on offer, with beers from all ten Kent breweries available.

Run by members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), all profits will go to CAMRA HQ to be used in campaigns to protect and promote real ale.

Organiser and Canterbury resident Gill Keay says there will be something for everyone: “it’s a highlight of the summer for our many regulars, but we always welcome new visitors and tourists too.”

She added: “We’re always trying to attract a new generation of real ale drinkers.

“If you think you’re a lager drinker, come along and try some of our straw coloured refreshing real ales and cask lagers.”

Special attractions this year include the Pink Girlie Bar for the ladies and Dark Star Espresso beer, flavoured with ground coffee in the boil stage of brewing. Shepherd Neame’s Oyster Beer, flavoured with actual Whitstable Bay oysters is also expected to be a popular choice.

Food and drink, including Goat Curry, German sausages and traditional Burger and Chips are also available on site. Added to that, there will be live music from a host of local bands.

A free shuttle bus is on offer for those wanting to avoid drinking and driving to the site, from Canterbury bus station, departing every 15-30 minutes from the start of each session.

Sessions for the weekend are from 6.30pm to 11pm today (Thursday), with tickets priced £4 available on the door; Friday (July 18)from noon - 4pm with free entry - tickets for the 6.30pm to 11pm session are sold out; Saturday (July 19), from noon to 9pm, with tickets priced £4, available on the door.

All sessions, except Friday evening, are free entry to card carrying CAMRA members.

Further information is available at www.kentbeerfestival.co.uk