THE town’s first summer beer festival is to be held this Friday and Saturday.

The St Helens Summer Beer Festival will take over Mill Street Barracks on Friday, July 28 from 6pm to 11pm and Saturday, July 29 from 2pm to 11pm.

There will be ales, ciders, food, and live entertainment – and for the first time a selection of gins and bottles of prosecco – not forgetting other spirits with the venue considered one of the most haunted in the country.

Event organiser, Gary Wright is head brewer of Rainford’s George Wright Brewery and co-owner of the The Talbot on Duke Street, who says there will be 30 real ales on offer.

Beers on offer include: Sara Hughes Pale Amber, Dancing Duck 22, George Wright Man of Steel and Johnny Vegas, Tipsy Angel Brewery George Shaw Premium Ale, Vocation Brewery Pride & Joy, Melwood Brewery Marmalade Skies and Slaters Top Totty.

Tickets are £4, including entrance, glass and programme and available on eventbrite.co.uk or from The Talbot.