Thousands of real ale fans will gather in the unlikely setting of a massive cow shed this week for the 39th CAMRA Kent Beer Festival

The Kent Beer Festival at Canterbury’s Merton Farm draws drinkers from across the county and further afield, eager to sample a wide range of beers and ciders.

The three-day hop jamboree starts on Thursday, July 18 and will feature more than 120 real ales, along with a real cider bar and a foreign beers bar.

In addition to the extensive tipples on offer, the family festival will have a diverse range of entertainment throughout the weekend, including a performance by circus troupe Juggle It All, who will demonstrate stilt-walking, juggling, fire-eating and magic and the Wantsum Morris Men.

There will also be plenty of music to help the beer go down, from the blues, rockabilly and jazz sounds of Scarlett Rae and the Cherry Reds, to covers band the Chillbillies and folk fusion from Coco and the Butterfields.

For the more competitive, the Modern Pintathlon will return on Saturday, July 20, following last year’s successful inaugural event. The pintathlon includes archery, barrel rolling, bat and trap, quoits and table skittles. It runs from 1pm to 5pm with the best scorers in each session taking home prizes and gold, silver and bronze medals.

Dedicated beer lovers can camp at the farm for just £10 per tent. There will also be a free shuttlebus to the festival from Canterbury bus station behind Whitefriars in the city centre. It will run every 15 to 30 minutes.

Times and prices: Thursday, July 18, from 6.30pm to 11pm, tickets £5 on the gate; Friday, July 19, noon to 4pm (free admission) and from 6.30pm to 11pm, with advance tickets £7.50; Saturday, July 20, open from noon to 9pm, tickets £5 on the gate.

Call 01227 463478 or visit www.kentbeerfestival.com