I'm sure beer aficionado's both locally and beyond, will be

pleased to know that Burnley will be having its debut beer week, from Friday September 1st to Saturday the 9th.

Yes, organisers will be brewing up a host of events, in and around the town centre; that is sure to tingle the taste buds. A week to celebrate the town's pub and brewing heritage.

One of the organisers, John Ingham, said: " We hope that many people will join in. One of the aims is to get as many folk as possible to visit their local pub during that week and enjoy a beer."

John added: " We don't care whether it is lager, Guinness, smoothflow or real ale - just try to make it to the pub that week and enjoy a beer. Lots of pubs nationally are still closing every week; and there are many much missed pubs in Burnley. Many pubs, now closed, from the 1960's will feature on a display in the Ministry of Ale, Trafalgar Street, during the week."

So, what is the beery schedule over the nine day celebration? Well, it commences with the official launch being held at Moorhouse's Brewery Bar on Accrington Road, 1st Sept., from 6pm-11pm. Free entry, with beers from Moorhouse's, Reedley Hallows, Worsthorne and Massey's.

Hang on. Did you say Massey's? Yes. The organisers have been in contact with Heritage Brewing, who are based at the National Brewery Centre at Burton-on-Trent. They still own the recipe from Massey's Brewery. So, Massey's Golden Bitter Beer, will be available on opening night - and at some selected pubs in the town centre during the week.

This will be followed by events to suit all tastes. Saturday will have a walk around six former brewing sites in central Burnley, led by pub historian, John Ingham. Meet at the award-winning, Bridge Bier Huis, from 12 noon. Concluding at the Ministry of Ale at around 2.30pm.

Other thirst quenching treats includes a Tap Takeover at the Bridge Bier Huis, by the new Rawtenstall brewery, Northern Whisper (Sunday from 2pm). And the following day, it's Meet the Brewer Night, at the New Brew-m, from 6.30pm. Head brewer, Peter Gouldsborough, from Reedley Hallows Brewery, will be in attendance.

Also lined up is a beer and quiz night at the KSC 110 Club(Tuesday); a beer sampling session at the Talbot Hotel(Wednesday from 7pm); a foreign beer tutored tasting at the Bridge Bier Huis, Thursday from 7pm; and a pub crawl of Central Burnley on Friday night, commencing at the Talbot Hotel.

The beery celebrations are concluded on Saturday with a visit to Worsthorne Brewery in Harle Syke. Followed by a trip to the Crooked Billet, Worsthorne, to sample some of the Worsthorne Brewery beers; and other tasty tipples.

It all sounds like a great week in prospect. Hopefully it will be a roaring success; and be repeated next year with events maybe a little further out of the town centre area - let's hope so.