ANDERTON Boat Lift has announced the beers and bands that will feature at its fifth annual beer and cider festival, being held next weekend.

In what promises to live up to the success of its previous festivals, 12 beers from the north west and Wales will feature, as well as four ciders and two lagers.

The festival runs from 6.30pm to 11.30pm between Friday, May 26 and Sunday, May 28. Tickets can be pre-ordered for £5 by calling 01606 786777 (£7.50 on the night).

This year’s rock bands will be Green Bullet a band from Crewe (playing on Friday night) and Northwich-based, Reminds (playing on Saturday).

Some of the beers and ales featured at this year’s festival are Facers’ ‘Northern Star’, Phoenix Brewery’s ‘Wobbly Bob’, Dancing Duck Brewery’s ‘Ay Up’ and Southpost Brewery’s ‘Natterjack’.

Ciders include Thistly’s Cross’ ‘Whiskey Cask’ and Cotswold brewery ‘Cockeyed’s ‘Mango Cider’.

Graham Woods, events manager at the Anderton Boat Lift, said: “This is one of our best festival line ups and I think will offer something really good for all tastes.

"What is certain is that there are few festivals that can offer such as spectacular setting.

"The towering Anderton Boat Lift is a masterpiece of Victorian engineering and its location on the River Weaver and Trent & Mersey Canal makes for unmissable location and wonderful atmosphere.”

“Top local acts during the Festival, include Green Bullet, a high energy, Cheshire-based band who will be playing a mixture of covers from punk through to blues and rock and roll on Friday night.

On Saturday, Northwich-based ‘Reminds’ will play covers of bands from the 1980s until now. There will also be live music on Sunday night to finish off a great weekend.”

The Anderton Boat Lift is the world’s first successful boat lift and an acknowledged masterpiece of engineering.

Its site comprises a series of grassy terraces leading down to the River Weaver and the Lift View Marquee, where the beer festival is being held. Food will be available throughout the evening, provided by the Lift’s in-house catering team.

Beer tokens will cost £2 each or 10 for £15.