GLASSES are being raised to the next Weymouth Beer Festival after the 2011 event was declared a runaway success.

The new larger venue of the Pavilion Ocean Room was such a hit that organisers from the West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have already booked it for next year.

And they will be increasing the amount of tickets for sale so more punters will be able to enjoy the real ale experience.

CAMRA says that in four sessions over two days, 1,300 drinkers consumed around 4,200 pints of real ale and cider.

This is compared to 1,100 drinkers and 3,400 pints down the hatch at the old venue of Brewers Quay in 2010.

Organisers moved to the Pavilion because the redevelopment at Brewers Quay closed the attraction.

As in previous years, all the tickets were sold out and the festival has been declared an unqualified success with increased numbers attending.

West Dorset CAMRA chairman Dave Harris reckons another 50 tickets per session could be offered for sale at next year’s festival, lifting the total attendance to 1,500.

Mr Harris said: “There was plenty of space in the Ocean Room, one reason this year’s festival was so successful.

“We think by some rearrangement, more chairs and tables could be made available to drinkers.”

He added: “We’re grateful to our core of about 40 volunteers, who help the committee run this event so well.

“We now run three festivals, October in Weymouth, July at Wykefest and with Round Table, the Dorchester festival.

“There is no doubt these beer festivals are important campaigning tools, involving more people in drinking real ale and promoting it.”

CAMRA bar manager Rich Gabe obtained 68 cask ales for the festival and hopes to up that number to 75 next year.

Drinkers are encouraged to vote for their favourite beer at CAMRA festivals and make suggestions for the future.

This year at Weymouth the winner was Sixpenny IPA, brewed in Dorset at Sixpenny Handley by Scott Wayland.

CAMRA spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins said: “We are grateful to the management of the Ocean Room for their ready co-operation this year especially duty manager Andy White, who did so much to help us make the two days such a triumph.”

Next year’s Weymouth festival will be held over the weekend of October 12 to 13.

The next CAMRA-organised festival locally will be the Dorchester event at the Corn Exchange on February 3 to 4.