Cheers to the beers — Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival is back!

The Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival returns to Magna from February 23 to 25 — and you could be there on us!

We have ten pairs of tickets to give away to the annual celebration of all things brewed, kegged and bottled, with more than 150 beers on offer from all over the UK.

Among them will be the legendary Black Sheep Brewery, described by the organisers as “a proper Yorkshire brewer”, which was launched at the first ever Rotherham Real Ale festival — then held at Oakwood — in 1992.

“They will be bringing a couple of their own beers, as well as the Yorkshire Guzzler for which they’ve got the recipe from the old York Brewery, which went bust,” said festival organiser Steve Burns.

“We will also have six from Abbeydale and Bradfield and seven from Chantry but also some from the small bottle breweries — the brewer for Collyfobble, of example, brews in his own front room.

“Tim Taylor’s and Gorilla will have their own bars but we also like to give people the chance to try something they’ve not tasted before — you might have had an Elland or Saltaire, but there will be people who’ve not tasted Sarah Hughes Dark Mild or an Enville honey beer from the West Country.”

Steve said the team had decided to go with a more general theme this year, adding: “We’ve celebrated NHS heroes and champions in past years but this year we looked at the fact it’s our 30th anniversary and decided to go with a celebration of Yorkshire as it’s a great Yorkshire beer festival.”

Live music is a big part of the festival, and the Everly Pregnant Brothers are topping the bill once again, with returns lined up for the GMen Soul Band, The Fargo Railroad Company and The Leathernecks.

Soul and dance classics will come from Funky Business, The Floodhounds will provide indie licks, the Magnetics are bringing everything from disco tunes to party favourites and Resurrection will pay homage to the many hits of the Stone Roses.

Steve said: “You could pay £26 or £28 to see some of these bands at the City Hall but here it’s just £12 and you get a beer festival thrown in.”

The organisers have also pledged that the famously chilly Big Hall at Magna will be “toasty”.

Volunteers are still needed to help staff the many bars, while Steve said he was also keen to hear from any potential sponsors.

As well as beer, there’s wine, gin, prosseco\!q and free soft drinks for designated drivers, plus crafts stalls, snacks and a selection of hot food.

Tickets are priced at £12 and all profits go to Rotherham Cancer Care.

Visit https://www.wegottickets.com/f/12968 to buy your tickets.

Entries must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, February 14.

For more information about the event, visit magnabeerfestival.uk, where you can also get in touch to find out more about sponsorship and volunteering.