BREWERS and beer lovers will be descending on York en masse this spring, for a top industry conference and awards bash.

The Society of Independent Brewers (Siba) will hold its annual brewing conference and AGM at the Royal York Hotel on March 6 and 7. It is the first time the event has been held in the city.

Speakers will include Roger Protz, editor of the Campaign for Real Ale's annual Good Beer Guide, and Martin Sykes, of Selby, who is widely credited with having kick-started a global revolution in microbrewing in the 1970s.

Charlotte Goram, of Siba, said about 500 delegates were expected at the conference, but said rising membership could help boost the attendance.

York has been chosen for this year's conference thanks to one of Siba's council members, Andrew Whalley, who is head brewer at York Brewery and, said Ms Goram, "because the venue is so nice".

Mr Whalley will become Siba's chairman of the north shortly after the conference.

Ms Goram said: "We have our AGM on the first day, and the chairman's reception. Then the second day is what we call the industry day. We have sponsors talking about different things to do with the industry such as environmental issues or anything going on. Then later it goes on to the beer awards."

Siba's National Beer Awards will be held in Hereford in February, but the presentations will be made in York.

Delegates will then gather for a special dinner at the National Railway Museum.

Siba was founded in 1980 under the name the Small Independent Brewers Association. It represents the interests of the growing number of independent brewing companies in the UK.