Organisers of the first ever Reading Octoberfest are hopeful that it will prove a huge hit, drawing in punters to sample the hundreds of tipples on offer.

The festival, which will be held at Hills Meadow from Thursday, October 2 until Sunday, October 5, will feature the best of British limited production real ales and ciders alongside premium lagers from Germany, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile those who prefer an alternative tipple can take in a taste of the Mediterranean at the sangria and wine bar. On Friday night The Big Pub Quiz will challenge visitors’ grey cells with prizes for the winning team and forfeits for the losers.

To add to the party atmosphere there will be live music, freshly-cooked street foods, retail stalls, entertainment by comedy cooking double-act The King Elvises together with fun and games with inflatables.

And on Saturday night CoCo and the Butterfields, who appeared at Glastonbury this year, will be performing their unique fusion of folk, pop and hip hop.

Paul Kennedy from event organiser Market Square Group said: “It’s great to be bringing the best of British and continental beers, lagers and ciders to Reading in this unique event for the town.

“The event has been specially designed with fun and frivolity to the fore, but at the same time we are catering for the tastes of serious beer enthusiasts.

“Ever conscious of the vagaries of the great British weather the beverages and music stage will be sited in a marquee.”

Only 18s and over can enter the event, with tickets costing £5 each on the gate on Thursday and Friday and £8 on Saturday and Sunday.

Advance tickets are available at £2 per person on Thursday and Friday and £5 per person on Saturday and Sunday while beer tokens, which cannot be exchanged for cash and are only valid for the duration of the event, are also available online and include free entry.

To book visit www.clickit-tickets.co.uk