THE Helensburgh Beer and Gin Festival will return to the town this May – and it will do so at a new home.

The event, organised by the Helensburgh and District Round Table, will be held for the first time at the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre in East Clyde Street when it takes place on Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18.

Organisers say the event facilities at the Argyll and Bute Council centre are "first class" and have plenty of space for the marquees, music and al fresco food which have made the festival a firm favourite in the town's annual events calendar.

The festival is the latest addition to the Civic Centre's growing calendar of events: last summer the building hosted Helensburgh's first 'street food festival', and since then it has been the venue for a Burns supper, a craft fair, a Scottish-themed 'pop up restaurant' and much more.

READ MORE: Street food festival tickles Helensburgh's tastebuds

Festival convener Paul Blackburn said: "I'm so excited about this year's event. The venue is amazing, and we're delighted to be working with the events team at Argyll and Bute Council.

"The festival will be bigger and better than ever, with a fantastic new venue, and improved food and drinks offering, plus great music.

"A number of local and national businesses have really helped us to hopefully put on our best ever event.

"We are right in middle of the crucial stage of the planning, but are confident we can deliver an even better event than last year. All we need now is some good weather!"

READ MORE: Picture special from 2018 Helensburgh Beer and Gin Festival

The festival has come a long way since the first event back in 2006, held at the Victoria Halls and attended by 300-400 people.

Fast forward to the 12th festival in 2018 and a crowd of more than 2,000 people attended the event at Helensburgh Sailing Club, enjoying a great selection of food, music, 40 different beers and lagers, 20 different ciders and a selection of the best gin, rum and prosecco cocktails from around Scotland and beyond.

One thing which won't change about the 2019 festival is the fact that it will support a range of good causes across the Helensburgh community.

Since last year's event support has been given to large number of funding requests including Helensburgh Amateur Athletics Cub Junior section, Ardencaple Football Club, Stand up To Cancer, Hermitage Academy Robotics Club, Helensburgh Savoy Music Theatre Group, Helensburgh Rugby Club, Friends of Helensburgh Martial Arts, Helensburgh Festival Lighting Charitable Trust (Christmas Lights in the Town Centre), Dumbarton Academy Breakfast Club, Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank, Visiting Friends and BASIC (SCIO).

For more information on the event please visit http://www.helensburghalefest.co.uk or search for 'Helensburgh & District Round Table' on Facebook .