An announcement by Round Table organisers in early May that the popular Alexandra Park event would be cancelled this summer was met with dismay among festival-goers.

After hundreds of people signed up to a Save the Hastings Beer Festival! group on social networking site Facebook, organisers began talks with police and other agencies to discuss plans for a scaled down version.

Now the event, which has raised more than £500,000 for local charities in its 26-year history, has been given the all clear for July 4 and 5.

An enormous marquee has been hired for the festival to prevent a repeat of last year's wash-out, when turnout dropped and huge losses were incurred.

Tim Pilbeam, of Battle Round Table, who is part of a voluntary team organising the event, said: "We have bowed to pressure from many regular visitors in past years and managed to arrange the event using an enormous marquee measuring 36metres x 60metres.

"This will enable us to ensure visitors are protected from the possibility of inclement weather and will house live bands and the beers.

"The new marquee is able to hold over 2,500 people alone, so we are confident that regular visitors can be fairly immune to bad weather which has caused us concern in previous years.

"It will create a huge single arena with a fantastic atmosphere regardless of the weather." He added: "We'll be focusing on local bands and beers from local brewers. We are appealing to the thousands who have supported the event in the past as well as new visitors looking to support us and the charities we donate to."

The festival will comprise three sessions featuring live music - Friday and Saturday evenings and a family session on Saturday afternoon from noon to 5pm.

Entry will be at the junction of St Helen's Road and Dordrecht Way.
Local businesses are being encouraged to take up on a range of advertising opportunities for banners around the site, as well as barrel sponsorship which is also being offered to schools, clubs and other charities.

Costs start at £130 for sponsoring a barrel of beer.
For more information about sponsorship contact Phil Astell on 07967 964744.

Any company able to help with sscaffolding, stage material, electrics or lighting in return for sponsorship is asked to come forward.

Tickets, priced £10 on the door for evening sessions, are now on sale at a discounted rate of £6.50 while Saturday afternoon tickets - £5 on the day - are being offered for £2, for the first 2,000 sold.

After June 12, prices will rise to £7.50 for evening tickets - with a deal of £6.75 each for purchases of 10 tickets - and £3 for Saturday afternoon.

Tickets are available at www.hbmf.co.uk, or Hastings Information Centre, next to the Town Hall, or by phoning 01424 451128.