A POPULAR beer festival is coming back to town to support a life-saving sea charity.

The CAMRA Harwich and Dovercourt Bay Winter Ale Festival will take place in Kingsway Hall in Dovercourt to raise funds for Harwich RNLI.

The first Harwich lifeboat, The Braybrooke, was built back in 1821 and the bicentennial of that decision has provided both the theme and the charity for this year's festival.

Beer lovers are invited to join the event next Wednesday between 5pm and 11pm, including on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 11pm.

Visitors will be able have a sip of a wide range of real ales, ciders and perrys available and an international bar offering bottled beers.

Colin Cheesman, chairman of the festival’s organising committee, said: “Harwich has a long and proud lifeboat history and when we became aware that this year is the 200th anniversary of Harwich’s first ever lifeboat, The Braybrooke, then the decision on our theme and charity almost made itself.”

“The unpaid volunteers who have arranged the festival and who will staff it are very much looking forward to the festival’s return after last year’s cancellation and I’m sure it will be a big success.

“As always, we have an excellent beer list and it will be lovely to be back in the Kingsway Hall enjoying quality real ale and raising a glass to Harwich’s first ever lifeboat, The Braybrooke.”

This year's festival will be a ‘no frills’ event with no music and hot food available to ensure Covid protection.

Light snacks will be on offer.

Visit tendringcamra.org.uk for more information