WEDMORE Real Ale Festival held their presentation evening this weekend, and handed out £18,000 of donations raised from this year's event.

The annual presentation evening was held in the function room of The Post & Wicket in Wedmore on October 21 2023.

Cheques were handed out to 19 organisations on the night, thanks to the money raised by the festival from September 15-17. 

This year’s £18,000 of donations brings the total amount of money raised for local causes over the festival’s 22-year history to an enormous £264,820.

Some of the organisations which benefitted from the donations this year included local sports clubs, Musgrove Park Hospital, Children's Hospice South West, Weston Hospicecare, Weston-Super-Mare Samaritans, Somewhere House (Somerset) Limited, and Somerset Prostate Support Association.

James Turbitt, WRAF’s Chairperson, said: "As with all previous years, we’re delighted that this year’s festival was a great success.

"We’re very proud to be able to give away £18,000 this year, considering the significant increase in costs associated with putting on the festival.

"It’s never easy deciding on where and how much to donate with so many worthy causes in need of funds, but we try to spread what we have to give across as many beneficiaries as we can.

"It is always a highlight for the committee to be giving out the cheques and it makes all the hard work in putting on and running the festival more than worthwhile.

"As always, none of this would not be possible without the huge commitment from our committee, the team of volunteers, our sponsors and everyone else who supports the festival in one way or another.

"So, they should also take the credit for what we have all achieved again this year."

Next year’s festival is set to take place from September 13-15 2024, so make sure to put the dates in your diary.