Imported Lagers

A Nottingham brewery that is creating its own royal wedding beer has enlisted the help of a soon-to-be-wed couple to add their own special ingredient.

Castle Rock Brewery is making traditional ale Kiss Me Kate to mark the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton on April 29.

The company found a couple who are marrying on the same day to add the vital ingredients – English hops – to the mix, and help create the ale which, at 5%, is enough to get any royal party started.

Toni Newbold, 23, and fiance Adam Sandy, 24, from Arnold in Nottingham, are taking their vows in a civil ceremony at a nearby conference centre which they also booked over a year ago.

Miss Newbold, who is studying for a BA Hons in childhood and youth studies, said: “We met through a mutual friend and our love affair blossomed through emails. Early meetings were for a drink and a film.

“I just thought what are the chances of royalty choosing to marry on what we thought was just a random Friday in April?

She added: “We’ve been saving up for our big day for some time, and so, even on Valentine’s Day, we stayed at home where I cooked a meal. Not very exciting!”

Miss Newbold and Mr Sandy said that with their wedding scheduled for 2pm, three hours after the royal wedding, they would have time to watch some of it while getting ready.

Castle Rock originally planned to create 46,080 pints of beer, as well as just 100 bottles for memento collectors and toasting future royal events.

But popular demand after the announcement meant the company has had to pull out all the stops to produce up to 70,000 bottles, which will also be supplied by supermarket giant Morrisons.