Peter WalshTo drink or not to drink - that is not the question, but rather the theme of a Norwich beer festival which will benefit children and adults with special needs in the city.Peter Walsh

To drink or not to drink - that is not the question, but rather the theme of a Norwich beer festival which will benefit children and adults with special needs in the city.

The Trafford pub in Grove Road, Norwich, will be holding its 17th annual Valentine Beer festival later this month with the week-long event being held in aid of the Hamlet Centre.

The Shakespearian-themed event, which launches on Monday, will feature about 80 beers from across the UK including a couple of aptly named tipples, including the 4.4pc Moleo and Juliet from the Wiltshire-based Moles Brewery and a Bards Ale which has been brewed in the Cairngorms.

Money from every pint sold during the festival will go towards the Ella Road-based Hamlet Centre.

Chris Higgins, landlord of the pub, said: 'They approached me last year and said would we consider taking them on and we said we'd be delighted.'

The festival, which runs until Sunday, February 14, also features live music on Saturday, February 13, with a quiz on the Sunday.

Last year's beer festival was held in aid of a North Walsham-based charity which helps vulnerable people and a cheque for �2, 724 will be presented to bosses at the organisation on Monday's launch.

Mr Higgins said it was important for pubs to do as much as they could in the community which is why he wanted The Trafford's Valentine Beer Festival to help raise cash for charity.

He said: 'I'm a great lover of local stuff. Our livelihood relies on the community we serve and if we can put something back into it, it's mutual benefit - the people using the pub are keeping me employed and so it's nice to give them something back.'

Michael Rooney, chief executive at the Hamlet Centre, said he was very pleased that the pub had decided to support the charity which helps children and adults with disabilities.

He said: 'It raises incredibly valuable funds for us, which is fantastic, and also what it does is it gets an organisation into the public eye and raises our profile. The Trafford is a well used and popular pub and if it raises the profile of the Hamlet centre then it's all good.'

Evening News's launched its Love Your Local campaign to encourage people to support their local pub and events like The Trafford's Valentine Beer Festival.

To find out more about the campaign or to see more stories from it, log onto www.eveningnews24.co.uk and click on news, then campaigns, and then Love Your Local.

Have you got a Love Your Local story? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk