ALE fans should get their orders in as a popular beer festival is returning to Weymouth.

Tickets are already selling well for the Campaign for Real Ale’s Weymouth autumn beer festival in October.

More than 5,000 pints of real ale from 70 different casks will be on sale, along with 12 ciders and perries.

The venue is Weymouth’s Ocean Room again, much praised by festival goers in the three previous years.

Organisers said it is a key part of the success.

Dorset CAMRA Chairman Dave Harris said: “The Ocean Room provides the best venue in our town for a beer festival.

“Not only does it have the space to allow plenty of seating, but there’s the superb view of Weymouth Bay.

“The Pavilion team are helpful and supportive, which helps us to run a festival that our guests regularly rate as excellent.”

CAMRA spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins added: “This will be our fourth October beer festival at the Ocean Room and some CAMRA members come long distances to enjoy Weymouth.

“Many will stay for the weekend and their families shop in the town – a valuable out-of-season economic boost.”

West Dorset CAMRA’s October beer festival was held for eight years at Brewers Quay, but closure of the Hope Square attraction in early 2011 forced a move. Moving to the Ocean Room meant more real ale drinkers could be accommodated.

Once again, 1,400 tickets are on sale over four sessions, 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4. There will be live music on Saturday evening.

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

They are being sold online at camrawdorset.org.uk or from The Boot, The Globe and Chalbury Food & Wine in Weymouth, and the Blue Raddle in Dorchester. Also available from Pavilion box office on 01305 783225 and Dave Harris on 01305 772286.

Some 70 firkins of real ale will be on tap, amounting to 5,040 pints of beer. Of these, 48 firkins will be from the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean.

Around 22 barrels will be provided by Dorset breweries. Blandford brewer Hall & Woodhouse will be bringing six casks of experimental brews from its new mini-brewery. About a dozen ciders and perries complete the choice.