THE rush for tickets to the popular Dorchester Beerex event is set to start in the new year.

The annual beer festival will be held on Friday, February 7 and Saturday 8 with tickets going on sale from January 1.

Tickets for most of the sessions regularly sell out in advance so fans of real ales and ciders are urged to act quickly to avoid disappointment.

The Beerex event, which is jointly organised by the West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Dorchester Round Table, will be held over four sessions with two lunchtime sessions from 11am to 3.30pm on the Friday and Saturday, and evening sessions from 6pm to 11.30pm.

Tickets for the Friday lunchtime session cost £5 and include a glass, programme and one free half pint.

Tickets for all the other sessions cost £10 and include a glass, programme and four free halves.

The Saturday evening session will also feature live music.

Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre in Dorchester’s Antelope Walk, The Borough Arms in the county town or The Boot in Weymouth and can also be booked online at camrawdorset.org.uk No tickets will be available on the door. CAMRA bar manager Rich Gabe said: “Friday lunch is the best session. All being well all of the beers will be available and in tip-top condition.”

There will be more than 80 real ales and ciders from all over the country on offer at the event, including some festival special brews. The main sponsor of the event is the Dorset Piddle Brewery and the barrels have also been sponsored.

Beerex chairman Ellis Ford said: “I would like to thank all of the companies and breweries who have sponsored every barrel – this shows a great community spirit.”

Beerex has also raised many thousands of pounds for charity over the years and this year the main beneficiary will be Gully’s Place, a new area at Dorset County Hospital for terminally ill children. A festival raffle will also raise funds for the Children’s Wish Appeal, which raises money to make terminally and seriously ill children’s dreams come true.

Any local companies that would like to donate a prize for the raffle can contact Dave Harris on 07977 918130.