Local businessman becomes first to sponsor barrel of beer for Blackburn Beer Festival

Blackburn’s oldest town centre retail business has become the first company to sponsor a barrel of beer for the forthcoming Blackburn Beer Festival.

Ainsworth’s Jewellers on Darwen Street, which has been in Blackburn for 144 years, has chosen to back the festival which is the first to take place in Blackburn for several years.

The festival is a fundraising event for local youth charity Blackburn Youth Zone.

Director Philip Ainsworth said: “Being close neighbours to Blackburn Youth Zone we have supported them from day one, it's been wonderful to watch it flourish and grow.

"As a long established business we like to support initiatives that benefit Blackburn, the beer festival will do just that, and help bring funds to this worthwile cause. Also with being a real ale drinker myself it was an easy decision to get involved and sponsor a barrel!”

Julia Wright from the Youth Zone is one of the organisers of the festival and said: “It’s a landmark occasion for the first barrel to be sponsored as it marks the start of the business community pulling together to bring a great event to Blackburn. There will be up to 60 real ales at the festival and we are looking for sponsors for all of them, this means we’ll be able to generate as much profit as possible which is going straight to the Youth Zone.” The festival takes place over May bank holiday weekend, from Friday 2nd May to Sunday 4th at Blackburn Rugby Club. It costs £195 to sponsor a barrel at the festival. To become a sponsor contact Julia Wright on 01254 292000.