AN ALE trail of Reading and Mid Berkshire is returning for 2020 and will be launched this weekend.

Campaign for Real Ale's (CAMRA) trail will be launched at midday on Saturday, February 8, at the Greyfriar in Reading.

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There are 24 pubs on the trail, in a mix of town centre, suburban and more rural locations.

People can pick up a booklet (from the Nags Head, the Alehouse in Broad Street or the Fox & Hounds, Caversham) and then collect stickers as they visit each pub.

They have two months to get around all 24 pubs.

With a full set of 24 stickers, the booklet can be sent in to receive either beer vouchers for the Reading Beer and Cider Festival, or an exclusive T shirt.

All completed entries are also automatically entered for a free draw where the prizes are boxes of beer and cider donated by local brewers and cider makers.

Prizes are also available for completing 16 pubs.

James Moore, Chairman of the Reading and Mid Berkshire branch of CAMRA, said: “Our Ale Trail is always popular and it’s a brilliant way to encourage people to get out and about and visit the fantastic array of local pubs in and around Reading.

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"There are brand new pubs on the Trail this year, such as Market House, Weather Station and Last Crumb, and we are sure they’ll be making a positive impression.

"Back by popular demand is a guest pub from outside our branch - the Bell in Aldworth - which has made the final four in CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year competition; it could well be the winner of the 2020 award when the Trail has been launched!”

James continued: “All the pubs on the Trail have been chosen because they sell good quality real ale and some also stock real cider, so it should be great fun visiting them all and choosing your favourite.

"It's also a curtain-raiser to the Reading Beer and Cider Festival on the 7th to the 10th of May, where you'll find the biggest range of real ales and ciders in the area.”

The Trail will be officially launched by local CAMRA members at the Greyfriar.

All are welcome to attend and collect their first sticker of the Trail and to meet the organisers.

Pubs participating in the 2020 Ale Trail are:

• Bell, Aldworth

• Elm Tree, Beech Hill

• Six Bells, Burghfield

• Griffin, Caversham

• Fox & Hounds, Caversham

• Last Crumb, Caversham

• Alehouse, Reading

• Allied Arms, Reading

• Castle Tap, Reading

• Greyfriar, Reading

• Lyndhurst, Reading

• Market House, Reading

• Nags Head, Reading

• Park House, Reading

• Retreat, Reading

• Three Tuns, Reading

• Weather Station, Reading

• Magpie & Parrot, Shinfield

• Swan, Three Mile Cross

• Fox & Hounds, Tilehurst

• Royal Oak, Tilehurst

• Golden Cross, Twyford

• Bell, Waltham St. Lawrence

• Crispin, Wokingham