The organiser of the Medway Beer Festival, which opens on Thursday, is retiring from running his own pub.

John Brice and his wife Diane have left the King George V in Brompton, which they have run for the last 10 years.

However, he insists the annual three-day festival at the Stanley Ballroom in Gundulph Road, Chatham, is safe for the foreseeable future.

He said: “After running pubs in Medway for almost 15 years, the time has come to put up my feet and sit on the other side of the bar.”

The King George V – known locally as the KGV – has been taken over by Leon and Emma Simmonds, who run their own beer business, called Kentish Ales.

John had a long career as a broadcaster and journalist with the BBC before helping to build the Tap n Tin in Railway Street, Chatham.

He went on to buy the Frog and Toad in Gillingham and won CAMRA’s pub of the year title for three consecutive years.

It was there that he started running frequent ale festivals, before taking over the King George V.

He said: “All that experience gave me the background to run the Medway Beer Festival.”

This week he and his team have been building the structures and bars which make up the annual event, John’s 11th.

They have racked up 50 tubs of real ale and set up 10 different ciders.

Last week, John travelled to Bruges to bring back the latest selection of bottled Belgian Christmas beers.

Live music has been booked for all three nights and a quiz has now been prepared for Saturday afternoon.

The entry fee is £3, which includes a glass to take home.

Today the event opens at 11am with an entrance charge of £5. On Saturday it opens at the same time with a fee of £4. Each night last orders are at 11pm.

The festival is restricted to anyone over the age of 18. Hot food will be served during most of the opening hours.

• In today's Medway Messenger there is a voucher for £1 off entry.