ALE aficionados and jazz fans will be heading to a York pub over the next two weekends as it hosts two special events.

The Phoenix, in George Street, is holding an early Easter beer festival from today until Sunday, then an all-day jazz event next Saturday in memory of former landlord Tim Everton.

The first event, billed as a “Festiv-ale”, should include 12 ales from around the country, mostly with a spring theme.

They include Spring Gold from Copper Dragon, Spring Zing from Hopback, Spring Fling from Wold Top and Spring Mist from Clark’s.

Next Saturday’s music day is billed as a Memorial Jazz Event for Tim Everton and will feature a number of musicians who perform at the pub’s regular jazz sessions.

The event runs from 3pm to 11pm, with a finger buffet from 5pm and a raffle to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Mr Everton and his wife, Val, reopened The Phoenix in 2009, after it had suffered a troubled few years.

They quickly turned it into one of York’s most respected pubs, but Mr Everton died last year following a battle with prostate cancer.

The Phoenix is now run by their daughter, Jenny, and Jon Fulton.