AROUND 200 people attended the beer and cider festival at the Winsley Social Club last weekend despite the thunder and lightning storms.

The three-day event on Friday, Saturday and Sunday September helped to promote products from several local cider and beer producers.

Club secretary Mike Cottle said: “We had three beers and four ciders on tap and they all went down very well.

“We sold out of several of them, even though we had ordered in extra stocks, and the drinkers seemed to enjoy them. We will definitely be hold the festival again next year, although we may bring it forward to one of the Bank Holidays.”

The ciders included: Gert Lush, Fanny’s Bramble and Iford, as well as real ales from Kettlesmith Brewing in Bradford on Avon, Wadsworth’s in Devizes and Palmers Brewery in Bridport.

Despite the downpour of rain on Saturday evening, the club held a barbecue until it became too wet to continue outside, so they served hot dogs indoors. Homemade pies and pasties were also available.

Mike added: “The festival provided our locals with an opportunity to sample and buy in a relaxed environment and take part in some traditional games.”

Other attractions and activities at the festival included music from The Wurzels on compact disc and live music from Fred Goater on the squeezebox.There was also a raffle and a prize picture quiz, as well as skittles, darts, snooker and pool.

The club is a registered charity and run by a small group of volunteers in a Grade 2 listed building which was once the Winsley Primary School. The funds raised will go towards the upkeep of the building.