THE TOWN will be alive with the sound of German beer guzzling next month, as the beer festival returns to Swindon.

The German Beer Fest is back in the MECA in Regent Circus for its fifth year.

The one-night-only event will see 500 people descend on the town centre venue for an evening of beer-swilling, sausage-munching and dancing.

Organisers have billed the festival as a “unique event”, with entertainment that recreates all the excitement of Oktoberbest – Munich’s legendary Autumn beer festival.

The festival will feature the Alpine Tompers oompha band playing traditional beer festival songs and a DJ spinning dance music favourites.

German barmaids, or “mädchens”, will serve beer and food in traditional costume.

Philip Marsh, one of the event organisers said that the evening was “an event rather than just a beer fest”.

He added: “This is our fifth year in Swindon and we are looking forward to coming back.”

The German Beer Festival is one of a string of events organisers BeerFestUK have set up in towns across the country.

The company, which began in Southampton, is the brainchild of former soldier Philip – who first came across Oktoberfest as a 19-year-old posted to Germany with the armed forces.

He previously told the Adver: “I did two tours of Germany, of two years each, and I really enjoyed the German lifestyle, the food and entertainment and of course I went to Oktoberfest.

“I was in a pub having a drink before a Southampton game with my brother and we were discussing our experiences of serving in Germany. It brought back memories of Oktoberfest and Schützenfest, which is a small shooting festival in Northern Germany.

“Some people have said ‘Why don’t you add cider or fish and chips’. But that’s not what Oktoberfest is about. It’s about the costumes, the food, and the beer. And it seems to have worked.”

The Swindon German Beer Fest is at the MECA on Saturday September 23, 5pm to 11pm. Tickets are £12 online or £15 on the door.

For more, visit: www.beerfestuk.com.