There will be a bigger Cornish flavour than ever before at next month’s (Aug) Great British Beer Festival at London’s Earls Court.

As guests of Truro-based Skinners Brewery, Falmouth Marine Band will make their debut at the big event, which runs from August 3-10 as the highlight of the year for CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale). They will wear their full Cornish regalia, including kilts.

The band, known nationally and internationally for their unique brand of entertainment, were formed just over 20 years ago and have since raised over £100,000 for various charities, notably through Falmouth Carnival.

Now something of that carnival atmosphere will extend to Earls Court, which will also echo to another distinctive Cornish sound – that of Skinners Sinners Singers, a loosely-knit choir mostly comprising members of Newquay Rowing Club and Falmouth Shout.

The choir has already made its mark at the big festival in previous years, attracting national publicity as a result, and this year’s event will also be graced by Betty Stogs, iconic figurehead representing Skinners’ namesake best-selling beer.

“Each year the Skinners party seems to create an even bigger Cornish flavour at the festival,” says brewery chief executive Steve Skinner, “and with the addition of Falmouth Marine Band this time Cornwall should really take Earls Court by storm!”