BLACK Country drinkers will be raising a glass for the 16th Coombs Wood Winter Beer Festival later this month.

Boozers will be able to imbibe 30 real ales and ciders at the event which takes place from Thursday, January 24 to Sunday January 27 at Coombs Wood Sports and Social Club in Stewarts Road.

Event organiser Nick Jones believes the event to be one of the best of its type in the area - and he should know.

Coombs Wood have been voted CAMRA's Stourbridge and Halesowen branch club of the year for the past four years running.

He said: "We've been running the festival since 2004 and it goes from strength to strength with people travelling from far and wide.

"To win the CAMRA award four times in a row is an achievement we're quite proud of, especially when you consider the quality of opposition we're up against."

There's also entertainment on hand during Friday night from 1970's new wave band Vaseline while rock covers combination Legends feature on Saturday night.

Festival opening times are: Thursday January 24th 6pm to midnight, Friday January 25th 4pm to midnight, Saturday January 26th 12-30pm to midnight and Sunday January 27th 12noon to 5pm.