A TOP beer festival is set to make a return and hopes to bring the Halstead community together after its was cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Real ale and cricket lovers can look forward to the 13th annual Halstead Cricket Club’s beer festival this month.

The festival is set to return to the cricket club’s grounds on Friday, August 27 and will run until Sunday, August 29.

Visitors will be bale to enjoy a wide range of real ales and ciders over the weekend event.

Food will also be available with a barbecue taking place.

However, what sets this festival apart from other in the area is that there will also be a weekend full of cricket matches to enjoy.

On the Friday, the Gents of Essex team will take on the Marylebone Cricket Club for Lords in London.

Saturday will see the Halstead second eleven team take on the Mildenhall third eleven.

Lastly, on Sunday it will be the North Essex Cricket League T20 Finals Day with Colchester, Abberton, Coggeshall and Witham all competing.

There willk also be music through out the weekend with Saxsafi, a local duo, and James Burrage taking to the stage.

The festival is also raising funds for a charity to be chosen by Brian Firmin, a club stalwart, in aid of his 90th birthday celebrations.

Organiser Lauren Hume said: “Due to government restrictions it has been a challenge to get the festival organised.

“We have had just over six weeks to ensure everything is ready and prepared.

“However, we are excited to be going ahead with our 13th annual Beer Festival and to be bringing the local community of Halstead together again after such a long time apart.

“We are hoping that despite it being the 13th festival and unlucky for some, that it won’t be for us.

“We are so thankful to all our sponsors, which include members of our cricket club and local businesses, to ensure that our event can go ahead.”