A LICENCE has been granted for an annual summer beer festival at the Wimborne Showground site.

The move to the site comes after organisers said the event had outgrown the town centre – having gradually increased in size after it was started 14 years ago by Wimborne Round Table, although the community group has now folded and the event has become a commercial venture.

Over the years the event has raised around £80,000 for local charities.

Dorset Police had not objected to the new licence but had asked for conditions to be added to ensure public safety – which the organisers  said they were happy to comply with.

Just one public objection has been registered to the event on the ground of possible anti-social behaviour and noise for residents in Willett Road.

The granting of the licence means the event, planned for the first weekend in August, can now go ahead.

The organisers say the festival, due to start on Friday August 5th, will include live and recorded music up until 11pm Friday to Saturday with last orders also at 11pm. Around 15 hours of live music are planned over the whole weekend, starting no earlier than mid-day, with the exception of Sunday when the event will finish at 4pm.

Camping is being provided on the 36-acre site with the majority of beer sales expected to take place within a marquee, according to applicants for the license, James and Laura Winter, who say their stage will face away from houses to reduce noise levels.

Up to seventy ales from around the country are expected to be on offer at the event along with food stalls and entertainment for children.

Said the organisers in a statement: “This will be a family run event and has always been at the heart of the community of Wimborne in the last 15 years and has been managed effectively to reduce the impact it may have on the local community.”