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5th Spring Ale & Steam Weekend on 18th
& 19th May 2013 |
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North Cotswold GWR Beer Festival Sells Out Yet Again
The Fifth Spring GWR Beer Festival held at Winchcombe
Station, in conjunction with the Glos/Wark Railway on the weekend of 18th to 19th May was a tremendous
success. Despite lack of sunshine the crowds yet again turned out en masse to
drink their way through 24 barrels of beer and 5 tubs of cider and perry. Please click here for the Beer & Cider
List. Over 500 people visited the festival on Saturday with 150 on Sunday but
more than sufficient to consume the remaining beer and cider by early afternoon
on Sunday allowing clearing up to commence after another hectic festival.
The beers were served from the North platform
waiting room with the doors removed to assist access. With two steam trains and
a diesel running throughout the weekend bringing more new customers it kept the
staff very busy on Saturday when 508 glasses were issued. Some new staff joined
three shifts of mainly regular helpers who were tested in serving a superb
range of beer in excellent condition. No rain but warm weather encouraged the
customers to spread out along the platform and grass banks following weeks of
poor weather. The usual marquee next to the bar provided a covered seating
facility with additional tables and chairs provided was well used including a
sales point for Postlip
tickets manned by Glos CAMRA
.
Donnington Gold (4.0%) was the first beer to run
out and won Beer of the Festival confirming the interest in a new Donnington
Beer by many of the very experienced customers. Thanks to Festival Coordinator
John Stocks and Martyn Herbert for selecting
an excellent range of beer and to Bar Manager Rob James for his
preparation and control.
GWR were delighted with the major additional
revenue of over £3000 ferrying mainly CAMRA members on the trains and additional catering which
will help fund the extension of the line north towards Broadway. Andrew Smith from GWR thanked CAMRA and the helpers for
their hard work and the excellent festival and look forward to the Second Autumn GWR
Beer Festival planned for 14th
and 15th September 2013. Next year
the Autumn GWR
will move forward to become a Summer GWR Festival
on 16th and 17th August 2014.
Thanks to everyone who attended and to the
helpers and set up teams.
Report by : Roger Price, North Cotswold CAMRA
Branch Chairman
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Beers 1 to 16 ready to go |
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Beers 17 to
24 ready to go |
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First Shift ready on Saturday in
their nice new Festival polo shirts |
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First steam
train. The famous ex Southern Railway “Schools” Class engine 925 “Cheltenham”
arrives 09:58 hrs on Saturday. This engine is part of the National Railway
Collection, on loan to the GWR. |
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Second steam train, number 2807 of
the Great Western Churchward 2800 class, arrives11:09 hrs on Saturday. This class
was introduced in 1903, so 2807 is 110 years old this year. |
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Crowds
building up early before midday on Saturday. |
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Harriers Staff resting in the tent
before their first shift |
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Staff in
full flow on Saturday at 13:39 hrs. |
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Landlord training his son to jump
the queue |
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Andrew
Smith showing Dick how to be a GWR guard |
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Staff Photo after a successful
Festival. Spot the slim one. |
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Last train back to Cheltenham. |
