THE popular Dales village of Grassington is to host the inaugural Wharfedale Beer Festival in November with proceeds set to benefit local community groups and other good causes throughout Upper Wharfedale to the tune of more than £10,000.

The recently formed the Upper Wharfedale CIC (Community Interest Company) is behind the two day event which will showcase more than 40 real ales from breweries in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park, at the Devonshire Institute, known locally as the “Town Hall” on Main Street in Grassington.

The CIC ­— a special type of limited company to benefit the community rather than private shareholders ­— was established by Dave Eggleton who is also chairman of Upper Wharfedale Cricket Club and Jonathan Shepherd, a director at Wharfedale Brewery which supplies beer to hostelries throughout the dale and sponsors the cricket team.

They are looking to support three core sectors this year; community transport links between the villages throughout Upper Wharfedale and the neighbouring towns of Ilkley and Skipton; junior sports development at the Cricket Club, Wharfedale Rugby Club and Grassington Juniors Football Club and tourism safety organisations; specifically Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Estate agents Dale Eddison who have recently expanded their operation following the opening of their new Skipton office last month, have agreed to be the festival’s main sponsor.

They will be joined by other local and national companies from the Grassington Wine Shop to the Royal Bank Of Scotland, at a private corporate session which gets matters underway on Friday, November 7.

This will be followed by three public sessions starting that evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday night, with tickets priced at £10 each including a number of food and drinks tokens as well as a commemorative souvenir pint glass. Special festival buses will be running from 11am-11pm on both days, to and from Grassington via Ilkley and Skipton railway stations which will connect with trains from Leeds and Bradford, at a cost of £5 return plus booking fees.

Cracoe based Mr Eggleton told the Ilkley Gazette: “Beer festivals have become very popular in recent years but we feel hosting such an event in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, especially with it being so easy to get to, offers people something that little bit different.

“We have been overwhelmed by the demand for the sponsors session which is now sold out and I would like to thank all our corporate donors for their immense generosity which has made the festival possible.

“I now hope people will follow suit and snap up the tickets for the public sessions at what should be a great event.”

Festival tickets are now on sale at the Narrow Boat in Skipton, the Flying Duck in Ilkley, the Foresters Arms and the Hub office in Grassington the Blue Bell in Kettlewell and online at wharfedalebeerfestival.com. Bus tickets can only be purchased via the website.