The Medway Beer Festival celebrates its 11th anniversary this year with lots of changes and improvements.

The three-day event in Chatham next month is now one of the most established ale festivals in the county with a range of ales and ciders from throughout the UK.

There will be 50 real ales, two draught and about 100 bottled Belgian beers, about 30 traditional ciders plus wine and soft drinks.

The festival runs from Thursday, November 8 for three days at the Stanley Ballroom in Gundulph Road, Chatham.

The venue has been the same for the history of the event but there will be changes this time.

Organiser John Brice said: ‘The aim is to try to make the festival more like the atmosphere of a pub which is where real ale is traditionally consumed.

"So we’re planning a quiz, a meat raffle and a visit from morris dancers. We will be serving mulled cider and wine and the hot food will have a pub feel about it.’

The ales will come from breweries as far away as Cornwall, Alloa in Scotland, the Isle of Man and counties throughout the UK.

There are ales of all styles from light and fruity to dark and heavy stouts and porters. They range in strength from 3.5% abv (alcohol by volume) to 5.6% abv.

The range of ciders will be extended this year as the apple drink becomes more popular. The complete range of Kent Bus ciders will be available including the Winter Bus which will be mulled if people want it hot.

Two different Belgian ales will be on tap as well as the normal range of around 60 bottled beers and as many Christmas Belgian ales as can be brought back from Bruges just a few days before the festival.

The festival opens at 4pm on Thursday, November 8 and at the earlier time of 11am on the following Friday and Saturday. The bar closes at 11pm each night.

The entry fee is £3 on the Thursday, £5 on the Friday and £4 on the Saturday.

The price includes a glass to take home. Entry is restricted to over 18s.

To receive a voucher which entitles you to £1 off entry to the Medway Beer Festival pick up a copy of the Monday Medway Messenger today. The voucher will also be printed in this Friday's Medway Messenger.