REVELLERS who love real ale and live music are in for a treat this Easter weekend.
The Old Well Inn, in Barnard Castle, is bringing together its open mic night and annual beer festival for a long weekend of fun and entertainment.
The inn’s open mic night was started about nine years ago and has grown in popularity, to the point where Eddy and The Hot Rods’ Barrie Masters performed there during an overnight stay a few weeks ago.
One of the open mic night’s founders, Malcolm Elsbury, said: “When it started we were just sat around the table and playing. We have gone from acoustic to a PA system, to a full-blown open mic.
“It is a great opportunity for young people to showcase their talent.”
Pub landlady Rima Chatterjee added: “The crowd here is very appreciative of talent.
“We get a lot of people who have stayed with us and seen the open mic, and they come back the next time prepared with their own guitars.”
This year the pub will use the beer and music festival to raise cash for the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.
The pub will have ten real ales on tap throughout the event, including the popular Landlord and Mithril beers.
The festival gets underway on Thursday, April 18, with an open mic night, followed by a bands night on the Saturday.
Mr Elsbury’s band the Old Age Travellers will perform alongside Rebecca-Anna Hosey and the Corner Boys.
Easter Sunday will see Russ Tippins take to the stage and Easter Monday will see a raffle being drawn in support of the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK.
