IT’S nearly time to raise your glasses to toast another Wykefest.

The three-day beer and cider festival hosted by the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth starts tomorrow.

It’s the third year the popular community pub has organised the event and this year there’s a new beneficiary – M.V. Freedom, the charity which provides an opportunity for people with disabilities, the elderly and young people to experience a trip to sea.

Pub landlord Rhos Thompson also wants to keep back some funds for a new idea to decorate lamp-posts in Portland Road at Wyke Regis with Christmas lights for the enjoyment of families.

The pub did something similar with poppies to mark Remembrance Sunday last year and raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Mr Thompson resurrected Wykefest in 2015, continuing the theme of showcasing local and regional breweries as well as supporting a good cause.

In previous years it was organised by Value House and held in the fields behind the store in Mandeville Road.

The event at the pub is on a smaller scale with a different feel, but it’s becoming a hit with locals and visitors.

It is held in the pub’s function room and there’s live music laid on and food served throughout the weekend.

The pub has once again teamed up with the West Dorset branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), and has received sponsorship from the Dorset Brewing Company and the Licensed Wholesale Company (LWC).

Mr Thompson said: “We’ve got more than twenty real ales and about fourteen traditional westcountry ciders.

“The idea is that people purchase a festival glass, which they can keep, and pay £1.50 for a token which gets them a half.

“The theme this year is ‘real rarities’ – ales from small, independent breweries which don’t get a lot of marketing but deserve to be recognised. The people from CAMRA have helped me select them. CAMRA members will be volunteering over the weekend.”

He added: “It’s great because we get a lot of people returning each year, including visitors who arrange their holidays around this event. It’s becoming a great little community event.

“I’d encourage people to come along, try an ale or cider and support a good cause.”

The pub is served by Service 1 First buses to Portland.

The festival kicks off when the pub opens at midday tomorrow and goes through until Sunday evening.