The Hitchin Beer festival had its best year ever last year, more beer, more visitors, so popular that the beer ran out mid way through the final day. 10 years in the making and still we are learning how to make it better. This year the event organiser

The Hitchin Beer festival had its best year ever last year, more beer, more visitors, so popular that the beer ran out mid way through the final day. 10 years in the making and still we are learning how to make it better.

This year the event organisers aren't going to be caught out by the events growing popularity (6,550 pints of beer in 19 hours last year) This year the numbers and volume of beers will be increased by a 20% over last year. There will be 70 + British cask beers and stouts. Ciders and perrys have always been popular and sold well, but this year we are able to take a larger selection from the national cider collection.

The festival is jointly arranged by North Herts Campaign for Real Ale and Hitchin Round Table . All proceeds are split between the two organisations and help to subsidise their running costs and recruit new members. Not a penny is wasted as it is staffed purely by volunteers. It has proved to be a great combination of skill and knowledge from the CAMRA side and manpower from the Round Table.

Andy Rawnsley from CAMRA told The Comet "this event is unbelievably popular and tremendously enjoyable for the staff. The Hitchin festival has a fantastic reputation not only with CAMRA's membership, but with the public at large. We have people travelling to come here annually from great distances. I have to thank the volunteers and public for making this event what it is over the last decade."

Russell Bennett from Hitchin Round Table added "indeed there is a party of 15 Swedish Round Tablers playing in specifically to come to event. Beer festivals like this are unheard of in Sweden, last year we happened to have one guy visit and now we are getting a delegation. They are now looking to put a similar event on in their home town. I do have to say a thank you to Andy though - he has been involved in the organisation all the way through the festivals 10 year history".

With all of the organisation side completed we just have the enjoyable part to look forward to! Our thoughts yet again are on next year though and the very real threat to the town hall. This year's logo declares that we are "Still supporting our town hall". There has now been three years of unsettling press regarding the future of the venue, Hitchin Town Hall. Hopefully this will be resolved once and for all with the decision that takes place shortly after festival takes place. Hitchin Initiative's plan for saving the ballroom area as a community venue at least gives the possibility of an even in 2011. Hitchin town centre manager Keith Hoskins is to open the event at noon on the Friday.

The dates of the festival are Friday 12th March (noon to 11pm) and Saturday 13th( 11 am to 11pm) at Hitchin Town Hall.

To coincide with this years CAMRA Hitchin Beer Festival taking place at the Town Hall on the 12 and 13th March, we are offering one lucky person the chance to win a copy of the 2010 Good Beer Guide.

To enter click on the link below and fill in your details and answer this simple question:

What does CAMRA stand for?

A, Campaign for Real Agriculture

B, Campaign for Real Ale

C, Campaign for Real Astronauts