THE FINAL preparations are being made for this weekend’s No Name Real Ale Festival.

The event returns to the House Without A Name pub in Harwood with an array of real ales and traditional ciders across the whole bank holiday weekend.

More than 35 ales will be available — with the majority being award winners or on the list of top 20 ales nationwide.

The event is also raising money for Bolton Hospice with £1 of each £5 entry fee going to the charity and donation buckets and other fundraising activities taking place.

The pub has a long history of raising money for the hospice and that is something current licensee Jon Paul Nolan, aged 31, who took over in 2012, wants to see continue.

He said: “We were aware of the fundraising efforts that the pub had arranged for the hospice and we wanted to carry that on — it is a great cause.”

Mr Nolan, his wife, Bethany, and father-in-law, Brian Grundy, run the House Without A Name as a family business and this will be their first festival at the helm.

Mr Nolan said: “We want to do as much as we can to boost awareness of the pub and really get involved with the local community.”

“At a time when many pubs are being forced to close, we think events like this are really important and if it goes to plan then we will be holding many more in the future.”

The festival kicks off at noon today (Thursday) and runs until midnight before re-opening across Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday from noon until 1am.

Today, Robinsons Brewery will be on hand for a “Meet the Brewer” event, featuring a taster session and a question and answer session.

Friday will bring with it a pies and peas supper, as well live music from Shoestring featuring Tom O’Gorman who will be playing an array of rock, pop, blues and folk music.

On Saturday, Wanderers fans will get the chance to see the Whites in action against QPR on the big screens ahead of a barbeque and another evening of live music.

More music will follow on the Sunday as well as a hog roast and the festival will be rounded off with a family orientated day and the No Name quiz.

For more information on the festival contact the pub on 01204433568