Ale and Arty festival ready to welcome drinkers to The Arc in Stockton (GALLERY)

VOLUNTEERS are all set to welcome drinkers to this year’s Ale and Arty beer festival at The Arc in Stockton.

After days of hard work by more than 60 people  all 7,300 pints are racked and ready for the three day, 83 beer celebration of ale that starts on Thursday February 21.

Festival organiser Dan Cassidy said the set-up for the Cleveland Campaign for Real Ale run festival had gone “brilliantly.”

“There’s been no stumbling blocks, everything has gone smoothly,” he said. “The beer is conditioning nicely, and everything’s racked up and tapped on the stillage ready.

“We pride ourselves on geographic diversity, and have sourced beers from all over England.

“”And we have some fantastic stuff – the volunteers are particularly looking forward to trying the Almighty Double IPA which was aged in a 1998 single malt whiskey cask for 4 months.”

As well as the beer each night The Arc has entertainment on, with musicians Giles Robson and The Dirty Aces on Thursday, and Mike McGrother’s new band The Rogues on Saturday, plus stand-up from the Catch 22 Comedy Club on Friday.

The Ale and Arty festival runs from 11am 5pm and 6,30pm to 11pm, Thursday to Saturday. Entry is £1 during the day, or free for card carrying Camra members. Evening sessions cost £4.50 on Thursday and Friday and £3.50 on Saturday.

Entry to the beer festival and entertainment costs £12 on Thursday and Friday and £10 on Saturday.

Souvenir glasses cost £2.50, but the amount is refundable if you hand it back when you leave.

For the full festival beer list click here (opens in new window)