THE WOOLPACK Inn in Eskdale is holding a German Beer Festival this autumn.

The pub stages numerous events including a real ale festival in June, which it hosts with the Boot Inn and the Brookhouse Inn.

That has run successfully for the last 15 years and regularly attracts more than 1,000 visitors and fills local and holiday accommodation.

The pub has staged other annual festivals and this year is putting on the annual wine festival in November and a vodka festival in December.

Paddington Berger, who runs the Woolpack with her husband Harry, said: “A wine festival was always part of the plan when we came here. Later our neighbours suggested a cider and sausage festival which we did and that was incredibly successful, probably because somebody told Radio 2 about it.

“After that we looked at the gaps in the year and now there’s something every three months.

“We tried out a secret German beer festival last year and it went well so we decided to go for it properly.

“The idea came up in the first place because so many people were asking us when we were going to have one.

As well as the Woolpack Inn and adjoining cafe and Hardknott bar, the Bergers also own the nearby Stanley House that they had converted from a 20-bed holiday let to 12 bedrooms, with ensuite bathrooms, available for self catering at weekends or bed and breakfast during the week.

Mrs Berger added :“It’s the right time of year to have the German festival as well.

"They’re traditionally held in September and there is the well known Oktoberfest which starts in mid September in Munich and runs into October.

"It's also the time of year when many families have had their holidays but many adults take theirs so the timing is good for an event that's more adult orientated.

“If the weather’s good, or if it's not terrible, we should have at least 500 people there which will easily fill the local lets and campsites.

“The Vodka Festival comes just before we close up for three weeks and then there’s the Gin Festival in March.”

The German Beer festival will feature 20 beers, oompah music and a bratwurst eating competition as well as less traditional events including tractor pulling and welly throwing.

It takes place on the weekend of September 2-4.