The first Yarmouth Beer Festival weekend, a collaboration between the town’s three pubs, which includes free live music and around 25 real ales, starts Friday, until Sunday.

From 11am The Wheatsheaf, Bugle Coaching Inn and the King’s Head will all be open with a variety of ales including blond, dark and porters for all beer lovers.

Rob Benwell, from Character Inns, said: “We want to start the season with something which will support the town and it makes sense that the three pubs join forces for the benefit of everyone.

“It’s also Mother’s Day on Sunday, when we will all be serving meals, and it celebrates the reopening of the King’s Head after its winter hiatus.

“If it works as well as we hope it will, then it’s something we will look to do twice yearly, with another beer festival in September.”

Adrian Evans, landlord of The Wheatsheaf, added: “There has been a lot of interest from across the Island already, and we are ready to welcome one and all. It’s nice to have a bit of a buzz in town at this time of the year.

“On Saturday, there is live music across the venues from 12.30pm until 11pm, so that should make for a great day for everyone. We are also producing a booklet for a small charge, which describes all the real ales, and their sales will be donated to Yarmouth Carnival and the events they contribute to the town throughout the year.”

Real Ales: Wheatsheaf: Proper Job, Night Hawk, Butcombe, Harveys, Bread of Heaven, Flacks, Hereford Pale Ale; King’s Head: Hobgoblin, London Pride, Reverend James, Fullers Gales, Golden Best (Timothy Taylor), Hereford Pale Ale; Bugle: Abbot Ale, Knowle Spring, Exmoor Gold, Broadside, Old Peculiar, Ringwood 49er, XB (Theakstons), Titanic Plum Porter, Otter, Wainwright Amber.

Music: Today, Friday: 6.30pm-8.30pm, Chris Williams (Wheatsheaf); 8.30pm-10.30pm, The Burglers (Bugle); 9pm-11pm, Ellie Gee (King’s Head). Tomorrow: 12.30pm-2.30pm, Jake James (Wheatsheaf); 1pm-3pm, Sean Goodfield (King’s Head); 2.30pm-4.30pm, Emelia (Bugle); 4.30pm-6.30pm, Black Daniels (Wheatsheaf); 6.30pm-8.30pm, That’s Life (Bugle); 9pm-11pm, Bethan John (King’s Head); 9pm-11pm, Storm (Bugle). Sunday: 12.30pm-2.30pm, Graham McCullough (Wheatsheaf); 1pm-3pm, Coverflow (Bugle); 3pm-5pm, Hodge & Allen (Wheatsheaf); 7pm-9pm, Greg Barnes (Bugle).