Dorchester's annual beer festival will be returning for its 35th year.

The annual Dorchester Beerex is set to return next year on Friday and Saturday, February 2 and 3.

It is organised by members of the West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club. It will once more be held at the Dorchester Corn Exchange.

Organisers hope that next year’s festival will see a major milestone achieved by breaking through the £250K mark of funds raised for good local causes to date.

The festival has two primary objectives: to showcase some of the UK’s best brewers and cider producers alongside raising valuable funds for good local causes. The 2024 primary charity will be Amelia’s Rainbow.

The 2024 Beerex Committee chairman Adrian Carey said: "I am really looking forward to working alongside my fellow committee members, it is a privilege to coordinate the group and I hope we can raise lots of money for Amelia’s Rainbow, to break through the £250,000 mark of funds raised so far would be an amazing achievement."

This is the second year that Cerne Abbas Brewery has been the main festival sponsor.

Brewery co-owner Victor Irvine said: “Cerne Abbas Brewery are once again proud to be the main sponsor of Beerex. This festival means so much to all of us, being part of a festival that has raised well over £230K over the years for good causes is an honour.

"We will be at all the sessions over the weekend and look forward to having a beer and a natter with anyone who fancies a yarn about all things beer."

Named after a Dorset girl Amelia-Grace Cooper who sadly lost her life to cancer, Amelia’s Rainbow supports children in Dorset and the surrounding area suffering from any terminal, life-limiting, serious and chronic illness.

The charity gives support by raising funds for family days out, social activities such as swimming or dancing or any other request which benefits the child through fun, learning, achievement and play.

The festival relies on goodwill from local businesses, companies and individuals through barrel sponsorship. If you would like to help and be a valuable assistance to the festival contact the festival barrel sponsorship co-ordinator Dave Harris via 07977 918130.

Tickets for the festival should appear on sale in early December.

Find out more at beerex.co.uk or camrawdorset.org.uk