The St Helens Summer Beer Festival takes over Mill Street Barracks on Friday 28 July (6pm – 11pm) and Saturday 29 July (2pm – 11pm).

There will be ales, ciders, food, and live entertainment – and for the first time a selection of gins and bottles of prosecco

Event organiser Gary Wright, head brewer of Rainford’s George Wright Brewery and co-owner of the hugely successful The Talbot real ale pub in St Helens town centre said; "The St Helens Beer Festival will see 30 real ales featuring a stunning selection of local, regional and national award winning breweries. We will have a great range of real ale favourites plus some surprise beers and rare selections we have been able to bring especially for the festival. Breweries will include: Vocation Brewery; Sara Hughes Brewery; Abbeydale Brewery and Mordue Brewery to name just a few!"

"Last November’s sell-out event was excellent and raised a lot of money for the Steve Prescott Foundation – so it is very exciting to be leading the first St Helens Summer Beer Festival this year and it promises to be bigger and better than ever before."

The Steve Prescott Foundation are looking for Beer Barrel sponsorship at £150 a Barrel which includes 4 Free Entry tickets (to both the St Helens Summer Beer Festival and St Helens Beer Festival on Friday 24 November & Saturday 25 November in St Helens Town Hall), advertising in the two event programmes and a glass of George Wright’s “Man Of Steel” which was specially commissioned in recognition of the amazing charity work of Steve Prescott to each of the entrants.

Martin Blondel on behalf of the Steve Prescott Foundation said "We are delighted to be part of this great event again. Last November’s event was a phenomenal atmosphere throughout the weekend and I sure this year will be just as good if not better! Thanks to all involved in making this happen!"

Martin added "The St Helens Summer Beer Festival is a fantastic new event which provides us with a great profile, increased footfall and spend within the town centre. Mill Street Barracks is a perfect venue for this event and the Council will be working closely with the event organisers and local event partners such as St Helens CAMRA to make the event a great success and raising much needed monies for the Steve Prescott Foundation. It is fantastic that Gary Wright is leading these hugely successful events as he brings a wealth of knowledge and contacts within the brewing industry to provide the very best real ales for the event in St Helens town centre."

Tickets are £4 (includes entrance, glass and programme) and are available online via www.eventbrite.co.uk (+84p booking fee) or from The Talbot, Duke Street, St Helens.

For up-to-date information including the announcement of the full beers list please follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@StHelensBeerFes and like Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheStHelensBeerFestival