A LAKE District hotel is gearing up for its ever-growing annual celebration of beer, food and music.

Tweedies Bar and Dale Lodge Hotel, in Grasmere, is in the throws of preparation for the ninth Grasmere Guzzler set to take place in late summer.

After first attracting 100 visitors to the inaugural festivities in 2006 - with a modest eight craft ales on offer - the event is expecting to welcome more than 4,000 this year.

To keep the record number of festival goers from going thirsty, the family-run bar and hotel is putting on 100 carefully selected craft ales and ciders.

And to round off the al fresco festival spirit, there are almost 30 musical acts set to entertain the crowds.

Tweedies Bar director Alex Goodall said: "We are very much looking forward to welcoming visitors to this year’s Grasmere Guzzler which is set to be the best ever.

“This event is one of a kind and has grown a steady fanbase over the past nine years, with visitors coming from as far away as Australia and more and more families attending.

"The event is free and with entertainment for both the kids and adults, great food and our unique selection of craft ales, everyone’s happy!”

Held in the grounds of of the Lakeland hotel and bar, the beer festival will take place between September 4 and 6.

Forming part of the musical line up are Molly Warburton, Scrogan’s Run and King Ider.

Other entertainment will include readings from poets from the Wordsworth Trust plus there will be stilt characters, giving a carnival atmosphere to the proceedings.

And Tweedies' head chef James Goodall will be on hand in the garden to help line your stomach throughout the weekend with a BBQ of delicious dishes from pulled pork, venison burgers and sticky ribs, to three bean burgers and halloumi kebabs.

For more information about the Grasmere Guzzler Beer Festival call 015394 35300 or visit www.dalelodgehotel.co.uk/grasmere-guzzler-festival