A NEW German-style beer festival will return to Southampton city centre after a successful debut, organisers have announced.

Almost 10,000 people paid £20 per ticket and gathered at Guildhall Square last month to take part in Oktoberfest, Southampton’s very own version of the famous Munich beer festival, which attracts more than six million to the Bavarian capital each year.

Beers from across the continent were served in traditional Bavarian-style Stein glasses, while a six-piece ‘oompah’ band provided musical accompaniment to the proceedings which ran across four-days in a specially-erected marquee.

James Ward, event organiser, said: “We’ve have had a fantastic response from members of the public this year.

“Nine thousand people people across five sessions is great news and has given the city a big economic boost as well as benefitting local traders and businesses.

“We wanted to show Southampton how Bavarian culture is celebrated and we achieved it.

“We are now going to develop and focus on Southampton so we can make it better next year.”

City culture and leisure boss, councillor Satvir Kaur, added: “I hope Southampton’s offering will become well established and continue to grow every year and residents and visitors will take advantage of this exciting addition to our thriving and dynamic city.

“Oktoberfest is world renowned and the events are held in major cities around the globe.”