ONE of the nation’s leading brewers is expecting a record turnout at its annual festival of food and beer.

The Green King Real Beer and Food Festival takes place this weekend at its scenic grounds in the heart of Bury St Edmunds.

The brewing giant, based in the town since the 18th Century, has now revealed the full line-up for the two-day event.

The festival, which is supported by the East Anglian Daily Times, will feature more than 40 local producers who will wow the crowds with a range of tasty treats.

There will be 10 live acts playing different styles from folk music to soul.

Visitors will also get a rare opportunity to quiz the man behind some of the nation’s favourite handcrafted ales during a series of ‘Meet the Head Brewer’ beer tasting sessions.

The workshops will be led by Greene King’s head brewer John Bexon and partipants will also get the chance to taste, smell and touch the hops and malted barley John uses to make his award-winning beers, and find out more about a number of the company’s leading crafted ales, including the newly-launched Greene King IPA Gold and Greene King IPA Reserve.

Gastronomic offerings will include luxury doughnuts, fresh-cooked curry and a unique beer-cured fish dish from former Master Chef contestant Tim Matthews, whose Artisan Smokehouse stall will be showcasing a Greene King-inspired hot salmon fusion created especially for the festival.

Acoustic performer Nick Lowe and Cambridge-based folk group The Willows will be playing along with Ellie Jamison, Adam Moss, Dumbfoundus, The Cads, Reb Capper, Lewis Mokler and Jon Hart.

Euan Venters, managing director Greene King Brewing and Brands, said: “Suffolk has so much to offer when it comes to quality beer and food, which is why we are so proud to put on this event and add our own flavour to the regional foodie calendar.

“It’s a chance for the local community to come together and celebrate everything that’s good about this fantastic county, while enjoying a great day out with friends and family.”

Food stands will be open from 10am-5pm on both days with music extending into the evening on Saturday.

Tickets for the Meet the Brewer sessions cost �5 and can be bought from the Greene King Visitor Centre, on Westgate Street, Bury, or by calling 01284 714 297.

The Visitor Centre is also selling tickets for the festival itself.

These cost �4 for adults with admission free for under 16s.

Parking will be available in the Greene King car park (off Cullum Road) and will cost �2 per car and will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Brewing has been part of life in Bury since at least as far back as 1086 when the Great Abbey’s ‘cerevisiarii’ - or ale brewers - were mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Although there has been a brewery on the Westgate site since 1700, it was in 1799 that Benjamin Greene moved to Bury to establish his own brewing business.

That business later became Greene King.