A cocktail of music, comedy and ale, lots of ale, comes to Stockton at the end of February when the annual Ale and Arty Beer Festival clocks into the ARC from 28 February to 2 March.

Offering more than 80 real ales, ciders and perries, the CAMRA-organised festival has a broad selection of quality beers to suit all tastes from fruity and fresh, malty and smooth, to dark and bitter... with plenty to please even the most discerning drinker.

Held over three days, the festival provides ale and art lovers with a convivial balance of tempting tipples and effervescent entertainment featuring Beatlemania on the Thursday, Catch 22 on the Friday, and The Wild Rover and the Haverton Hillbillies on Saturday.

Beatlemania features a rip-roaring magical musical tour through the Fab Four's back catalogue; while Catch 22 with MC Dave Longley, Seymour Mace, Simon Lomas and Phil Nichol is a riot of real-ale-fuelled hilarity. The festivities finish off with The Wild Rover Mike McGrother's night of songs which reflect "the good, the bad and the ugly" sides of Teesside.

Tickets for daytime sessions, from 11am-5pm, cost £2 and can be bought on the day from CAMRA staff, with the sessions free to card-carrying CAMRA members.

The evening sessions, including the entertainment, run from 6.30-11pm and are bookable online and via the ARC box office. Tickets can also be purchased for the beer festival only, with entry priced at £4.50 on Thursday and Friday, and £3.50 on Saturday.

For more information visit the Stockton Arts Centre website.