Shropshire Star

Good spirits as Oktoberfest comes to Telford

It will be all hands to the pumps when beer drinkers from across the country flock to the popular Telford Oktoberfest tomorrow.

Published
Cocktails, gins and whiskies have been added to the line-up for Telford Oktoberfest, which has been run by John Ellis for 22 years

The festival, which has been run by John Ellis for 22 years, has been expanded to include cocktails, gins and whiskies for the first time.

Extra beer pumps have been installed to the Crown Inn at Oakengates and the Elephant & Castle at Dawley for the event, which will see more than 60 beers on offer from across the UK and the rest of the world.

There will also be a choice of perries and ciders at the event, which runs until Monday.

Professional cocktail mixers will be at the festival in Dawley on Friday evening, and then at Oakengates for Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Mr Ellis said: "Beer enthusiasts from all over the country flock to the festival, where new or lesser-known beers are the stars."

He said he had scoured the world looking for the newest and most interesting beers, including cask ales, bottles and keg beers.

"There is a great interest in tasty new drinks, and we've offered thousands of them over the last few years," he added.

The festival opens tomorrow and runs until October 2, opening daily from midday at the Crown and from 5pm at the Elephant & Castle.

Mr Ellis has been running the event since he took over the Crown in 1995, and says it is one of the biggest pub-based festivals in the UK.

The Crown also hosts the long-running open mic night from 8.45pm tomorrow, with musicians from across the region expected to perform.