A POPULAR beer festival is set to return to town as organisers prepare for the 18th event in its history. 

This year’s Maldon Beer Festival will have up to 60 ales, with 25 being from local brewers, and 15 ciders to choose from.

To honour the Great British Beer Festival tradition, the middle day of the event will be the festival's first-ever hat day.

Visitors are being asked to dress up in recognition of King Charles's Coronation in their finest regalia and with a hat or cornet.

This year's festival charity is Farleigh Hospice, which provides hospice care free of charge to people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement in mid-Essex.

The festival will this year be held at The Swan Hotel Bar and Grill’s Cygnet Room, behind the Swan Hotel, instead of at Plume Academy.

Food will be available in the Swan restaurant and they will also allow food to be brought in from outside.

James Burrell-Cook, the chair of Maldon and Dengie Campaign for Real Ale said: “The Maldon beer festival finally makes a welcome return to the calendar this year.

“The beer festival will have up to 60 ales on offer, of which 25 will be from local brewers, and 15 ciders.

“Food will be available in the Swan restaurant. The Swan has also kindly allowed food from the high street shops and vendors to be brought into the hall.

“As part of the return of the festival, the first-ever hat day will take place.

“This is a feature of the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia, where the middle day, Thursday, has always been hat day.

“In recognition of the imminent coronation of King Charles, people are invited to come along dressed in their finest regalia, a bit like ‘Kind Hats and Coronets’.

“Visitors are invited to wear a crown, coronet or tiara for the day, Thursday April 27. There may even be prizes for the ‘best in show’.

“The festival this year is being sponsored by Gray and Sons, who have not only very local pubs but many throughout Essex, alongside our local brewers, Crouch Vale, Mighty Oak and Wibblers.”

The festival begins on Tuesday, April 25 until Saturday, April 29 from 12pm to 11pm every day.

For more information, go to www.maldonanddengiecamra.org.uk/MaldonBeerFestival.