THIS year’s Bradford Beer Festival has been hailed as the best ever, according to the man who ordered the beer and ales which sold out minutes before the event closed.

The sell-out event at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, last weekend drew thousands of tipplers who sampled exotic brews of every type, said Bill Arnold, who sourced drinks from home and abroad.

“It was fantastic and could be the most successful festival we’ve ever had,” Mr Arnold said.

“We shifted 40 barrels of beer with 18 gallons in them and 88 barrels with 9 gallons in them – which works out at 1,296 pints that ran out just before we finished at 11pm on Saturday.

“We also sold 1,050 pints of cider and perry and 750 pints from the foreign beer bar.

“We has some cracking comments from people, saying this is what a beer festival should be like – loads of ales you don’t usually see.”