THE Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) Ayrshire Real Ale Festival returns to Troon Concert Hall next month.

It runs from Thursday, October 4 until Saturday, October an is taking place for the 19th time.

This year there will be over 150 real ales on offer as well as traditional cider and perry. Wine and Prosecco will also be available.

Doors open to the public at 2pm on the Thursday with a preview for CAMRA members from noon. On Friday and Saturday the doors open at 11am. Admission is just £6 (£4 for CAMRA members) with free entry on subsequent visits on production of this year's festival glass. Under 25s will be admitted for £4 on the first day. Anyone joining CAMRA at this years festival will be entered into the prize draw.

The first prize will be two nights' B&B at the House o’Hill Hotel Bargrennan.

This year all of the beer can be purchased using tokens which can be purchased on the door or at several locations throughout the venue. Chip/pin contactless machines can be used to buy the tokens. Full refunds will be given on any unused portions of the token cards or they can be donated to our festival charity – Breast Cancer Care.

Beer festival regulars will now be used to there being a second themed bar in the adjoining Walker Hall. This year it is called the 21st Century Bar. This will feature Breweries and beers that have been established or created since the millennium.

This will give everyone a chance to sample beers from breweries they might not have heard of before. At the time of going to press the beer list had not been finalised and may contain a few surprises.

There will be live music on Friday and Saturday night from Delta Smoak who will be playing Country and Americana music. Because they were so popular last year we have invited them back to play both nights.

Douglas Graham, chairman of the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival organising committee, said: “This year will see the biggest and best beer festival ever held in Ayrshire. Half the beers will be from Scotland and half from the rest of the UK."