As Norwich City of Ale prepares to return for its fifth year, the festival is celebrating securing funding to help promote the event even more widely and boost the city's reputation as a premier destination for real ale.

Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) is to be Norwich City of Ale's main sponsor for the next three years and the funding from the organisation will be used to promote the festival both locally and nationally. Last year's Norwich City of Ale was the most successful to date, and this year it will run from May 21 to 31.

Dawn Leeder, co-chairman of City of Ale, said: 'We're delighted that Norwich BID has agreed to be the main City of Ale sponsor for the next three years.

'This gives us the opportunity to promote the fine city even more widely and to welcome more real ale lovers from even further afield.

'By securing three years funding we are ensuring the festival's sustained success into the future.'

Stefan Gurney, executive director of Norwich BID, said: 'City of Ale is a resounding success that Norwich BID is very happy to support.

'It attracts new visitors to the city with the knock-on effect of additional footfall in shops and restaurants, plus it keeps our vital city pub trade vibrant and thriving. Everyone's a winner.'

Last year, 44 pubs and 39 breweries took part in Norwich City of Ale.

The event attracted more visitors to the city and promoted Norwich nationally as a real ale destination.

A fifth of the visitors came from outside of the region – nearly double that of the year before.

Currently, organisers are busy planning the 2015 event and all city pubs serving real ales are eligible to take part.

The first Norwich City of Ale planning meeting of 2015 will be held on Friday, January 30, at 10am at The Murderers, in Timberhill. All publicans and brewers are welcome.

For more information about Norwich City of Ale visit www.cityofale.org.uk

Follow @CityOfAle on Twitter.