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10^th Spring Ale & Steam Weekend May 19^th & 20^th2018

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Records are Shattered Once Again!

Blessed with fine weather the increasingly popular Ale and Steam Weekend run by North Cotswold CAMRA held on Saturday 19^th and Sunday 20^th May was a huge success with all beer and cider selling out by close of play on Sunday at 4 pm. Held at Winchcombe Station with 27 beers and 13 at Toddington Station with 12 ciders spread over the two bars. With Broadway station now open we anticipated a need to increased supply with an extra 6 barrels provided over last year. The new building housing the bars at Winchcombe is shown right.
^ Ready with the Beers in the Winchcombe New Building ^		^ Toddington Beers, in the Waiting Room as usual ^
^ Customers bask in the sun at Winchcombe ^		^ Customers queue for the Beers at Toddington ^
Winchcombe provided the first beer to run out at 2pm on Saturday, Cotswold Lion’s Woolpack at 4% apv. This is a new one brewed at Cobberley, a light golden Summer Ale.		The bar at Toddington proved very popular with a range of beers from the Wessex area, and seemed first choice for many as the starting point. Congratulations to the team at Toddington who had the second beer to run out with Hopback’s Taiphoon at 4.2% apv a light fruity beer brewed at Downton.
Cider of the Festival was Priors Tipple at 6.5% apv from Stanton, running out first at both stations. This very local cider is medium dry blended with Bredon Hill Elderflower and more was delivered on Sunday before running out again.
^ Winchcombe Bar on Sunday ^		All the beer and cider completely sold out with Saturday the busier of the two days but a range was still available through to Sunday particularly at Toddington since Winchcombe was reduced to only dark beers. Overall sales were a record at 40 barrels and all of the cider and Perry. Most people also chose to retain their Festival Glasses sponsored by 2018 POTY winner the Inn at Fossebridge. The half pints were most popular along with our new half pint tankards sponsored by the Crown & Trumpet at Broadway celebrating 30 years in the GBG. Many thanks to The Coach and Horses at Longborough who sponsored the maroon staff polo shirts.
>> Congratulations to new Festival Director Alan McClellan, seen on the left in the photo, taking up the reins and Festival Coordinator Martyn Herbert for his beer selection.
		<< Also many thanks to Cider Coordinator James Fry, seen on the left in the photo, who was applauded again for his selection of "quality" local ciders and Perry all well received. Also thanks to Rob Brady, Good Beer Co., who again provided most of the National range of beers.
The Railway were delighted with the extra custom and rail travel. Andrew Smith our GWR point of contact felt it had been a huge success and reported new record train travel on the Weekend with more passengers than last year from Cheltenham. Photo right shows Merchant Navy Class 35006 Peninsular & Oriental S.N. Co., one of the engines used during the weekend, sporting the “Return to Broadway” headboard.
^ Toddington Helpers ^		Membership Secretary Garry Hayward recruited 11 new members for CAMRA over the event again a record for this event dominated by hard core CAMRA members. Many thanks to all our superb helpers and committee members. Most of all, many thanks to our fantastic customers who turned up to drink us dry. Look forward to seeing you all at the 5^th Summer Ale & Steam on August 10^th to 12^t^h. Note a new session at Winchcombe on the Friday 12 noon to 4 pm as a starter.

Report by: Roger Price, Branch Chairman.