This year's revived Ipswich Beer Festival was a runaway success - and organisers have already pencilled in a date at the same venue for 2024.

The four-day festival from Thursday to Sunday was organised by Briarbank Brewery and the Ipswich and Suffolk CAMRA branch.

Ipswich Star: Rob Lewis-Pyke at the Ipswich Beer Festival.Rob Lewis-Pyke at the Ipswich Beer Festival. (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Rob Lewis-Pyke, from the brewery, said: "It was really good, it exceeded what we had planned for.

"We got 2,000 people here across the four days - we had been expecting to get about 1,500.

"We had 620 gallons of draught beer on offer when we opened Thursday afternoon. By Sunday night's closing time we had 25 gallons left! And that doesn't include the keg beer and cider we sold."

Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves at the festival and many people commented that they hoped it became an annual event again.

Mr Lewis-Pyke said talks with the team that run the church about next year were already well advanced.

"We've got dates pencilled in and we're very confident it will go ahead again - we hope to be able to confirm these by early next year."

Ipswich Star: Visitors to the Ipswich Beer Festival were able to take their drinks outside.Visitors to the Ipswich Beer Festival were able to take their drinks outside. (Image: Paul Geater)

The weather was near perfect for the event - and drinkers were able to either stay in the former church or take their glasses outside where there were also stalls serving a range of locally-produced food.

CAMRA members helped to set up and staff the festival, and some of the older members said they hoped the event would encourage more younger people to join and volunteer for future events.

Nigel Smith has been a keen CAMRA member for years and said: "We could do with some younger faces to help us put up and take down the barrels!"

CAMRA members got a considerable discount on the beers on offer at the festival.