From the Dover Express 12 February 1998. CAMRA committee member Andy Bushby toasts the festival which pulled in the crowds.

HUNDREDS of thirsty beer lovers drank a real ale festival dry at the weekend.

Organisers were astonished when stocks ran out by 6.30pm on Saturday. Organisers hoped there might be enough beer for the event to continue until 11pm.

It was the fifth annual White Cliffs Winter Ale Festival organised by the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale at Dover Town Hall.

Spokesman, Dave Green said: ''The first beer to disappear was the White Clill's Winter Ale, which was made specially for the event by Sittingbourne-based Swale brewery.

"Next year we'll have to think about ordering more so we don't run out until it ends."

The festival featured more than 50 varieties of traditional strong wheat beers with names like Cocklewarmer, Old Ebenezer and Rector's Revenge.

Around 500 beer lovers flocked to the event on Friday and 300 on Saturday.

Entertainment was provided by the Men in White Coats and Barnacle Bill's Jazz Band.

Profits of around £1,000 will be split between Buckland Hospital's League of Friends and the costs of staging next year's event.

Mr Green said: "It was a highly successful event thanks. There was no rowdiness or drunkeness, despite the amount of beer consumed.

"I suppose people were too busy drinking their ales to bother being badly behaved."