Cider will be a star attraction at Hitchin Rugby Club next summer

Organisers of the annual Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival confirmed this week that they will be returning to Hitchin Rugby Club in Old Hale Way over three days in June – and the festival will be hosting good beer pressure group CAMRA’s countywide cider competition.

All known cider makers registered in Hertfordshire will be asked to put forward two of their regular ciders.

Judges will be asked to sample and mark each in a blind tasting, and the highest overall score take the prestigious title.

At a launch event at the Half Moon pub in Bridge Street on Tuesday night, the dates – Thursday to Saturday, June 11 to 13 – were revealed, along with a smart new logo.

Cheques were also presented to Herts Society of the Blind and the Hitchin Partnership, the result of donations at the 2014 festival, which is organised by North Herts CAMRA, Hitchin Round Table and the rugby club.

Find out more about CAMRA in North Herts here