This year's Redhill Beer Festival will take place at Merstham Village Hall in Station Road North, Merstham, from next Thursday (October 31), and will run through to Saturday, November 2. The ninth annual three-day celebration of beers, ciders and perries will be taking the 50th anniversary of the Great Train Robbery as its theme. The notorious mail train robbery was planned in and around Merstham and Redhill, and the beer festival programme will include a short article about it. Organisers the East and Mid-Surrey branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) will again be laying on 70 beers, ciders and perries, and are hoping to try out a new bar lay-out. Last year, the festival recorded an increase in business, with over-all attendance up by 7% on 2011. It drew more than 1,000 people.

There will be hot and cold food available at all sessions and souvenir T-shirts and a range of CAMRA publications and products will also be on sale. The festival is run entirely by volunteers organised by CAMRA branch members. The doors will open at noon on Thursday, and will remain open until 11pm. The same times will apply next Friday, while on the Saturday, the event will run from noon until 6pm - or until the beer runs out. Admission on the Saturday will be free, although a £2 deposit will be charged for a souvenir glass, which may be kept or alternatively returned for a full refund. There will also be “early bird special” rates on Thursday and Friday for those who can attend in the first few hours. The organisers recommend avoiding the peak time of 5pm to 8pm on the first two days if possible, when there may be queues. There will be a £1 discount for CAMRA members at all fee-paying sessions. The programme is included with admission. The proposed list of available beers and other details can be viewed at the event website: www.camrasurrey.org.uk/festivals/festivals-redhill For general details call the organiser, Clive Jennings, on 01737 778711, or email: redhillbf@camrasurrey.org.uk