A HAMPSHIRE-BASED brewery is backing a local ale and cider festival.

Upham Brewery is to sponsor this year’s Camra Winchester Real Ale and Cider Festival, which runs on Friday and Saturday.

At the festival, in Winchester’s Guildhall, Upham will showcase its selection of ales, including Tipster and 1st Drop, while attendees will also each receive an Upham branded glass on arrival.

More than 3,000 visitors are expected to attend the Festival, which will feature more than 100 different real ales, ciders, perries and foreign bottled beers.

The brewery, based at Stakes Farm, in Upham, said it had made the decision following a sustained period of growth since it was officially launched last year.

Upham Brewery says it has seen a sales growth of more than 220 per cent in the past year and hopes to expand from its current eight pubs.