Oktoberfest turns Shrewsbury's Quarry into 'biggest pub in the park' - with pictures and video

Thousands of drinkers flocked through the gates at The Quarry - ready to sample some of the 150 beers and ales on offer.

And if there were not enough brews to tickle their tastebuds, there was also a gin den, rum shack and prosecco parlour.

The festival kicked off on Friday night and was dubbed 'The Biggest Pub in the Park' and organiser Beth Heath of Shropshire Festivals was delighted with the reception.

"We had about 1,500 people just on Friday night alone," she said. "It has gone really, really well.

"Everyone has been having a brilliant time. The idea for the Oktoberfest came from my husband.

"He said we always put on festivals for kids and families but it would be nice to just have one for the grown-ups. So that's what we did.

"And it seems there was a definite market for it. We have had a few families in but on the whole it has been couples and huge groups of lads. And some have even dressed up in Lederhosen - which has been really nice.

"People appear to want that something a little bit different. And this festival seems to be it."

And Beth, who also organises the Shrewsbury Food Festival, Shropshire Kids Festival and Telfood Feastival, is so sure of the success of the Oktober Fest, she is already planning next year's.

"It would be great to be able to hold it next year too," she said. "It has captured people's imagination so it would be really nice to be able to come back and stage it again."

There was also a comedy club and three live music stages and if drinkers needed something to soak up the alcohol there was a farmers' market selling local produce and a street food area.