IT’S not just beer this year at the Rotary Club’s annual festival, with gin and Prosecco among those added to the bill for 2018.

The Northwich Beer and Drinks Festival returns to Memorial Court on September 21 and 22, celebrating a quarter of a century in the town.

Following visitor feedback at last year’s event, a greater variety will be on offer this year, on top of the traditional 50 beers available to pick from.

Rotary member Tim Henshall said: “At the 2017 event Val Alcock and Sara Wass, associate members of the club, spent a considerable amount of time completing a questionnaire with our guests. It soon became blatantly obvious that our beer festival needed to change.

“In 1994 beer festivals were new, something different, but now there are so many it’s no longer enough to provide a range of craft beers and ciders to satisfy our discerning guests – they are demanding greater variety of craft ciders and a broader range of beverages such as gin, Prosecco and wine.

“More tables and chairs were requested, as were local bands – but not too loud! There are the facts, and this year we are responding to each and everyone one of them.”

Friday night will see Beaver take to the stage to provide a soundtrack, followed by the Tijuana Death Squad on Saturday.

The silver jubilee event will be celebrated with commemorative t-shirts, sponsored by councillors and with proceeds going to charity as with all funds raised.

Over the past 24 years, the event has raised more than £200,000 for good causes. Of the 1,680 beers hosted, only one has been hosted at each and every festival – Wobbly Bob by Phoenix Brewery.

The event is jointly organised by The Rotary Club of Northwich and The Rotary Club of Northwich Vale Royal.

See ticket details at northwichbeerfestival.co.uk