32nd East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival returns to St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds with 7,000 visitors expected

A popular annual beer festival returns to a Suffolk town today for its 32nd iteration with 7,000 visitors expected.

The East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival will be open every day until Monday, August 26 at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

The cathedral is set to host 250 real ales and 60 ciders, with food stalls, a sound stage and a full entertainment programme also in place.

In June, West Suffolk CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) said more volunteers were ‘urgently required’ to keep The East Anglian Beer and Cider Festival running and continue its support for local charities.

The festival is growing in popularity after achieving a record attendance of 6,300 people last year.

It has raised over £175,000 so far, with £15,000 donated last year alone.

The opening times of the festival are as follows:

Wednesday, August 21: 4pm – 5.30pm (trade and members only) and 5.30pm – 11pm (festival open)

Thursday, August 22: midday – 11pm

Friday, August 23: midday – 11.30pm

Saturday, August 24: 11:30am – 11pm

Sunday, August 25: midday – 8pm

Monday, August 26: midday – 6pm