Get your tickets to get the party started for the City of Ale festival

City of Ale 2015 logo (Image: Archant)

The 10-day celebration of the city's fine pubs will kick off with the launch event at the Narthex in the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Thursday, May 21.

This year will see 44 pubs across the city take part in the festival, and up to 24 local real ales will be on offer.

Among the special events over the festival will be the seven ale trails, when people will be transported between up to seven different pubs in the city by the City of Ale bus.

Phil Cutter, landlord of the Murderers pub and co-chairman of the festival, said: 'Before Norwich City of Ale started, Norwich might not have been on the radar so much – but now we get people from outside the city saying that we are right up there with the best cities in terms of good quality pubs and ale.

'The benefits will last far longer than the 10-day festival.'

The City of Ale charity beer for this year has been named as Wymer's Legacy.

The competition was won by Scott Edwards, of Thorpe Hamlet, who has won two VIP tickets to the launch party.

Five breweries, Golden Triangle, Humpty Dumpty, Panther, S&P and Grain are collaborating to brew the special beer.

All profits of 50p per pint for the 'hoppy and flavoursome pale ale' will go towards the Hamlet Centre Trust which supports children and young adults with disabilities.

There are currently 247 tickets available to book online for the launch party at tinyurl.com/coa-launch-2015.

Tickets will also be on sale at the Ribs of Beef, Vine, Rose Inn, Murderers and the Plasterers Arms from April 25.

Trails to try

Earlham trail

-Gatehouse

-Fat Cat

-Belle Vue

-Earlham Arms

-Georgian Townhouse

-Coach and Horses (Bethel Street)

Southern trail

-Beehive

-Eaton Cottage

-York Tavern

-Eagle

-Trafford

-Kings Arms

-Rose

Westwick trail

-Reindeer Micawbers

-Plough

-Rumsey Wells

-Vine

-Sir Garnet

Castle trail

-Maids Head

-Take 5

-Wildman

-Walnut Tree Shades

-Lamb

-Murderers

Magdalen trail

-Adam and Eve

-Wig and Pen

-Ribs Of Beef

-King's Head

-Plasterers

-Leopard

Thorpe trail

-Buck Inn

-Fat Cat & Canary

-Coach and Horses (Thorpe Road)

-Jubilee

-Lollards Pit

-Compleat Angler

Waterloo trail

-Virtuoso

-Cottage

-Marlborough

-Fat Cat Brewery Tap

-Whalebone

-Angel Gardens

-Duke Of Wellington

Tickets for the party will cost £5 which will include a free souvenir glass and a free first pint.

Do you have any City of Ale stories? Email Kieran.Lynch@archant.co.uk