THE Jolly Farmers Inn at Leavening is to host its annual beer festival from today, Wednesday, June 14 until Sunday, June 18.

Now in its sixth year, the organisers say that the festival is “going from strength to strength” and that a packed schedule has been put together for this year’s event, from a Yorkshire Pudding eating competition to live music, a barbecue and a big pub quiz.

They added: “Over the five days there will be more than 30 real ales and ciders to try as well as the traditional pub offerings. “

The preliminary drink list features beers from across the country, including from the Stonehenge brewery in Salisbury, the Mauldons brewery of Sudbury in Suffolk, the Upham brewery in Hampshire and the Salopian brewery of Hadnall in Shropshire.

There will also be drinks from closer to home, including from Wold Top of East Yorkshire and several from York breweries.

Ciders made in Malton will be on offer, including ciders flavoured with locally-grown elderflower, raspberries and rhubarb, and a toffee apple variant which “tastes like bonfire night”.

A free tasting evening on Thursday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm will also be an opportunity to meet with some of the pub’s local wine and cider producers and learn some of their trade secrets.

Music from East Yorkshire-based folk singer Nick Rooke and his band is scheduled for Friday night, and on Saturday there will be a barbecue and more music from the York-based ‘Hyde Family Jam’ playing “folk music gone wrong.”

The festivities are to be rounded off on Sunday with the ‘Yorkshire Pudding Eating World Championships’ at 4pm with the awarding of the Jolly Farmers trophy, followed by the Great Big Pub Quiz which will start at 6.30pm.

The Jolly Farmers Inn on Main Street in Leavening is open from 5.30pm Wednesday and Thursday, 5pm on Friday and from noon on Saturday and Sunday.

For a full list of the beers with tasting notes and a rundown of events, visit the Jolly Farmers Facebook page at facebook.com/jollyfarmersinn or call 01653 658276.