DORSET ales take pride of place as the bar gets stocked up for an autumn beer festival.

Local brews will be joining beers from around the South West at the Campaign for Real Ale’s October festival at Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room.

Organisers from the West Dorset branch of CAMRA say tickets are selling fast for the festival, returning to the Pavilion for the third year after a move from Brewers Quay.

More than 4,750 pints from 66 breweries will be on sale – plus 15 casks of cider and perry.

Bar manager Rich Gabe says it has been a difficult task selecting the ales.

He added: “It’s not possible to stock them all but with the aim of something for everybody, I have selected a combination of all styles of beer, utilising old festival favourites, well established South West breweries and some exciting new breweries that I have yet to sample.”

Dorset delights include award-winning Small Paul’s Chocolate Porter from Gillingham, Wessex Wobble from Bournemouth Brewery, Saxon Gold from Bourton-based King Alfred, Town Mill’s Black Ven dark ale from Lyme Regis, Raven Porter from Corfe Castle, and Palmer’s award-winning Tally Ho! from Bridport.

In addition there will be 15 ales from Somerset, 10 from Cornwall, nine from Wiltshire, 13 from Devon, three from Bristol and three surprises.

The festival will be held on Friday and Saturday, October 4 and 5.

CAMRA West Dorset Chairman Dave Harris said: “The Saturday lunchtime session is the best seller at the moment, with less than 100 tickets left across all outlets.”

There are two sessions each day, 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm.

Tickets cost £5 for evenings, £4 Saturday lunchtime and £3 Friday lunchtime.

There will be live music on Saturday evening.

Tickets are being sold online at camrawdorset.org.uk/ Octoberfest.htm or from The Boot and The Globe pubs in Weymouth, Royal Portland Arms and The George Inn on Portland and Blue Raddle at Dorchester.

In addition, Weymouth Pavilion 01305 783225 has a supply, as has Dave Harris on 01305 772286.