It’s all change at the St Albans Beer and Cider Festival this year with a stronger focus on local breweries and a much improved food offer.

This will be the 26th festival organised by the South Herts branch of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

It will be held at the Alban Arena from September 27 to 30 and the four days of beer, food and fun will be officially opened at 3pm on Wednesday 27 by local MP Daisy Cooper.

There will be 100 beers from British brewers plus a selection of international beers.

British beers will be showcased on the stage while the main hall will be reserved for beers from local producers.

Tring and Vale breweries will have their own bars while the Crossover Blendery from Weston will feature beers produced by spontaneous fermentation using wild yeasts in the atmosphere.

Delicious food is promised by Crusty Pie, Kell’s Kitchen and the Portland Arms with – for the first time - fish and chips.

There will be Chiltern cheese and charcuterie along with Greek and Turkish baklava.

The 2024 edition of the Good Beer Guide will be launched on Wednesday evening and other notable events include a cheese and beer tasting by writer Des de Moor on Saturday at 12.30 and a heritage pub walk conducted by Paul Ainsworth of CAMRA’s Heritage Pubs Group.

There will be live music on Thursday evening and all day Saturday.

There are a few tickets left for my beer talk and tasting on Wednesday evening: www.stalbansbf.org.uk.