This month sees the beginning of a brand-new arts festival to be staged in Pembroke town. It is the brainchild of Jonathan Nutting, county and town councillor and landlord of the Royal Oak pub in Main Street.

The Pembroke Festival lost direction a few years ago, and people’s interest waned, but everyone knew a town with such attributes deserved and needed something special, everyone wanted a festival, but how to make it special? What would make it stand out from the crowd and, most importantly, build in longevity. The interest is there; all that was needed was to start the ball rolling.

Jonathan hopes he will gradually build interest and enthusiasm for an amazing event in the south of the county. He is prepared to take a leap of faith and he hopes others will join him over the coming years to showcase the town and enable it to become a cultural centre. Now it is about to take its first steps towards becoming a major, week-long event.

To inaugurate the festival, Jonathan has teamed up with the local branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) to stage the first-ever Pembroke Beer Festival from Friday to Sunday, July 29 - 31, at the Town Hall, which promises to be a real treat for all lovers of real ale, and especially beers brewed in Pembrokeshire and elsewhere in Wales and Great Britain. There will be 25 ales plus ciders and wines to choose from.

Each day of the festival will have themes and music. Friday night will celebrate Welsh culture with music, dance and singing. Saturday night entertainment will be provided by ‘Lighthouse’ and the relaxed Sunday afternoon session will see ‘Al Davy’ perform.

The Royal Oak, Jonathan’s pub, started life just outside the town wall, on the site of the old Eastgate, and has an interesting history, having originally been a meeting point for farmers and others during the regular town markets.

Art lovers will be treated to an art exhibition in the Town Hall, to run from Thursday to Saturday, August 4 - 6 . It ties in nicely with ‘Art out West’, a group of artists in South Pembrokeshire who have open studios at the same time and a must for any serious art lovers.

Ale and Art forms the framework for what is planned to grow into a festival of the performing arts. In future years, there will be performances around the town on the back of low loaders by schools, colleges and Welsh theatre groups - all to be based loosely on the medieval mystery cycle, as Jonathan describes his vision.

“We are all familiar with Pembroke Castle being the spectacular backdrop for everything from Shakespeare performances through to music with Jules Holland,” he said. “It is hoped that the Pembroke Festival will one day see this stunning venue hosting such prestigious names as the RSC, while ‘son et lumière’ performances will bathe the ancient walls and towers in a blaze of colour and light, with musical accompaniment.”

An exciting prospect indeed. Jonathan Nutting has certainly set his sights high, stating that the long-term aim is for the Pembroke Festival to grow into a nationally important event like the famous Hay Festival. So the town of Pembroke is set to put Pembrokeshire firmly on the festival calendar. Best put the dates in your diary straightaway!