An award-winning Hitchin pub is gearing up for its spring beer festival with its usual top quality selection of ales, ciders and perries.

The Half Moon pub on Queen Street will be holding its 13th anniversary beer festival from today until Sunday.

The popular gathering is set to be the best one yet as thirsty punters will be able to sample a record number of 60 real ales, seven kegs and 20 ciders and perries. There will also be live music from 8pm on Saturday and live music and dance from 12 noon to 8pm on Sunday.

Pub landlord Howard Phillips said: “We’re looking forward to hosting our spring beer festival and welcoming as many people as possible to our pub for quality ales in a friendly atmosphere.”

The array of top notch ciders includes the 8.4 per cent Devil’s Device produced by makers Mr Whitehead’s with the ale Hop Smash from Abbeydale packing a punch at 7.4 per cent. For those who are looking for something weaker Saved By The Bell by Bespoke weighs in at 3.8 per cent.