Home Page

Diary

Pub News

Walking

Contacts

Map

Links

4^th Summer Ale & Steam Weekend August 18^th to 20^th2017

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

.	The 4^thSummer Ale & Steam Weekend Breaks all previous Records The event, run by North Cotswold CAMRA, was held this year on Friday 18^th to Sunday 20^th August, and despite mixed weather, was more popular than ever. Providing three bars at two stations with 24 beers and 8 ciders at Winchcombe and 10 beers and 4 ciders at Toddington, served from the North Platform waiting room. Winchcombe served 12 local beers and hot food from the Marquee and 12 national beers from the Waiting Room. The token, glass stand and membership stand was under cover in the marquee which worked very well. A trade and public session on Friday afternoon for beer tasting was successful so in future this will become routine at Winchcombe from 1200hrs on the Friday. A mixture of sunny periods and showers on Friday and Saturday required use of the Marquee at Winchcombe at times particularly on Friday, but given the unsettled 2017 Summer we escaped lightly with our busier day ever on Saturday.	^One of the “Pullman” trains bringing thirsty customers to Toddington ^
^ The Toddington “London” Beers ^		The second bar at Toddington proved very popular with a particularly interesting range of beers from London. Saturday was busy at both Stations, resulting in many barrels running out by 8pm with a limited range for Sunday lasting out to 2 pm at Toddington, and 3 30 pm at Winchcombe.
Winner of the Festival, the first to run out, was Five Points Pale 4.4% from Hackney London served at Toddington. They brew under a railway arch and started in 2013. The winning cider was Prior Tipple’s Elderflower Infusion 6.5% brewed locally at StantonWinner of the Festival,		xx
^ The Toddington Bar Staff celebrating having the winning beer ^		Congratulations to Beer selectors Martyn Herbert and John Stocks who with Good Beer Co supplier Rob Brady who once again provided a great range of beers with the furthest coming from Leeds namely Midnight Bell Stout. The London theme was a great success. James Fry our Cider Coordinator once again provided bespoke cider offerings with input to blending and enhanced local emphasis.
This 4^thSummer Ale and Steam event blitzed last year’s record 3^rdSummer results and has overtaken this Year’s 9^th Spring Ale and Steam record achieved in May.		^ The busy scene on Platform 2 at Toddington on Saturday ^
^ The end of the Toddington bar queue ^		The Railway and ourselves were surprised and delighted with the extra custom and rail travel. Andrew Smith from GWR felt it had been a huge success and we look forward to the opening of the new amenity building at Winchcombe next month which will provide greater capacity for the May 2018 Spring Ale and Steam Weekend.
Membership Secretary Garry Hayward doubled recruitment with 16 new CAMRA members. Many thanks to our customers and dedicated band of helpers for a very successful event and we now look forward to our 10^thMoreton Beer & Cider Festival on 9^thand 10^th September		^ Helpers from both stations pose at Winchcombe on the final day ^

Report by: Roger Price, Branch Chairman & Festival Director. Photos by Peter Rowe & Roger Price