Beer lovers will be able to sample a mixture of real ales at a four-day festival next year.

Norwich Evening News: The CAMRA real ale festival which was held in February 2017 at St Andrew's and Blackfriars' Hall in Norwich. Picture: NORFOLK AND NORWICH CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE BRANCHThe CAMRA real ale festival which was held in February 2017 at St Andrew's and Blackfriars' Hall in Norwich. Picture: NORFOLK AND NORWICH CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE BRANCH (Image: NORFOLK AND NORWICH CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE BRANCH)

The February Festival will run from February 20 until February 24 at St Andrew's and Blackfriars Halls in Norwich city centre.

Organised by the Norwich and Norfolk Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) branch, the festival will spread out to cider and real ale pubs in the city during that time for a fringe event.

The festival at St Andrew's and Blackfriars Halls will include the Great British Beer Festival Winter competition where champion brews from across the country will be judged.

The CAMRA competition, four-day festival and fringe event came to Norwich for the first time this year and will continue into 2019.

Jenny Bach, Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA press and publicity officer, said a February Festival was introduced to Norwich because of the popularity of the main Norwich Beer Festival which runs in October and is in its 40th year.

Ms Bach said: 'It is about every shade, style and season of beer. It will be a replica of the Norwich Beer Festival. We are pulling out all the stops.

'It will help pick things up for the pubs and it is a way to say to people they can go out in February and have fun.'

She added beer festivals helped boost the overall economy in an area because it helped breweries as well as pubs.

Ms Bach said the events were popular because drinkers enjoyed the social aspect.

Next year's February Festival will include live music as well as a variety of real ale and cider.

Speaking about the 2017 Norwich Beer Festival, Ms Bach added: 'Everyone had lots of fun at this year's festival. It is a really lovely coming together of people. We are grateful that they have fun. There is such a wonderful atmosphere.'

More than 18,000 people attended the week-long festival.

Donations from festival-goers raised £7,070 for Leeway, which supports victims of domestic violence and abuse in Norfolk.

The February Festival runs from noon-10pm and is free for CAMRA members. Single advance tickets cost £13 for the Wednesday and £14 for the other days. This includes £7 worth of beer tokens and a glass.

Single tickets on the door cost £3 for the Wednesday and £4 for the other festival days.

Visit www.winter.gbbf.org.uk