PUBS and bars across Harwich and Dovercourt are set to raise their glasses for the second Harwich Ale Trail.

The trail will encompass pubs, a gallery, a pier-side cafe, a Thames barge, a brewery and others, all uniting for a celebration of ale, cider and historic Harwich.

The event will run from Thursday until May 2.

The trail was held for the first time in December last year as an alter nati ve to the cancelled Harwich and Dovercourt Winter Ale Festival.

Now organisers are hoping to make the event a permanent spring fixture, to fill a gap between the other popular festivals in the town.

This year’s venues include the sailing barge Victor, The Globe Inn, The British Flag, The Hanover Inn, The New Bell Inn, The Alma, Shakers Bar, Cafe on the Pier, Swan House Gallery, The Crown Post, the Harwich Town Sailing Club and also the Harwich Town Brewing Company .

Trail co-ordinator Paul Mellor said: “I have a beer list back from most pubs and I’m now going to pick them up.

“It’ s very East Anglian-themed, with beers from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex – and some from Somerset and Sussex.

“There will be 50-plus beers and two dozen ciders, and, hopefully, if the weather is good, it will be fantastic .

“We also have a couple more venues to enjoy this time – there is a lot on offer.”

An estimated 700 people enjoy ed the event in December , consuming 3,000 pints of cask ale and 500 pints of cider and perry.

Mr Mellor said there would be plenty of tasty ales punters would not normally be able to buy in the area.

“It's all beer not normally seen in Harwich, and the aim is to create a festival spread across the pubs of the town with everyone behind it,” he added.

“The Swan House Gallery will have their selection of Weird Beard Brew Company beers again, it’s a lovely place to enjoy a drink and a really nice touch to have them involved.”

Each venue within the Harwich Ale Trail is no more than a minute from the next.