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8^th Spring Ale & Steam Weekend, May 21^st & 22^nd2016

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Records are Shattered!

The increasingly popular Ale and Steam Weekend run by North Cotswold CAMRA held on 21^st and 22^nd May was a huge success despite poor weather on the Saturday with all beer and cider selling out by close of play on Sunday at 4-15 pm. Held at Winchcombe Station with 22 beers and 10 more at Toddington Station with 8 ciders also available split between the two locations. This encouraged train travel between stations for customers to experience the full beer range and also reduced delays in serving the beers.	^ Ready for the Crowds at Winchcombe ^
^ Winchcombe Customers ^	The train journey time between stations was just right to consume a pint and be ready for the next one. Some people were seen with two glasses a good idea with steady custom at both stations.
^ Toddington Queues on Saturday ^	^ Serving the Beers at Winchcombe ^
The second bar at Toddington proved very popular and seemed first choice for many as the starting point. Cardiff Branch of CAMRA visited both stations starting at Toddington. Toddington served the first beer to run out which was Blue Monkey’s Infinity a golden beer at 4.6%, a very popular brewer from Nottingham. This is therefore the Beer of the Festival closely followed a half hour later by Winchcombe’s Tiny Rebel’s superb White Label a golden Mild at 5%.	^ The hammered Toddington bar on Sunday ^
^ The Victorious Toddington Team ^	Congratulations to the team at Toddington who narrowly missed out last year on the Festival Winner with their Exeter Avocet. They also hosted Clder of the Festival which hailed from Moreton in Marsh, Pearsons Medium Cider at 5%
All of the beer and cider was sold out with Saturday the busier of the two days and a good range was available through to Sunday particularly at Winchcombe since Toddington was severely battle damaged. Overall sales were a record at 32 bbls and 6 cider boxes. Most people also chose to retain their Festival Glasses sponsored by 2015 POTY winner the Plough at Cold Aston.	^ The Winchcombe Marquee ^
	The half pints were most popular and sold out first with our glass stocks wiped out and my garage now fairly empty. Never fear we will have more for August sponsored by our POTY 2016 The Craven Arms Brockhampton featuring Legless Bob.
Congratulations to Festival Coordinator Martyn Herbert for beer selection. Also to Cider Coordinator James Fry who ordered "quality" local ciders and Perries from Stanway, Hartpury, Malvern and Moreton in Marsh, all clearly well received as Toddington was dry of cider and perry by Saturday late afternoon. Good Beer Co supplier Rob Brady again provided the advertised great range of beers including several beers from East Midlands including the Winner (right). Setting up and dismantling was achieved quicker than ever.	^ The Winning Toddington Beer ^
^ Roger & Andrew ^	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 Week End and is delighted to come on our Branch Committee to further refine this event and prepare the journey to Broadway.
Membership Secretary Garry Hayward recruited 8 new members for CAMRA over the event again a record for this event dominated by hard core CAMRA members so not such fertile recruitment territory.	^ Dinmore Manor hurries to pick up more customers ^
	Many thanks to all our superb helpers who are invited on our Day Away at Cirencester and the Regional POTY coach tour. (See Diary page) << Winchcombe & a few Toddington Helpers gather for a team photo at the end of play on Sunday.
Most of all, many thanks to our fantastic customers who turned up in adverse weather to drink us dry. Look forward to seeing you all at the 3^rdSummer Ale & Steam on August 20/21^st	^ Just a few of the many happy customers ^

Report by: Roger Price, Branch Chairman & Festival Director