24th Ale and Steam Weekend – June 2026

The festival was another cracking success with virtually all the beers and ciders selling out at both stations, Winchcombe (28 beers and 10 ciders) and Toddington (20 beers and 6 ciders), with one reserve cask tapped at each. The Railway reported great numbers on the trains.

In addition to our selection of local brews there were beers from London and the Home Counties, which all went down very well. The first beer to run out at 1.15pm on Saturday, was ‘Here Comes The Sun’, a 3.8%ABV pale ale from Brentwood Brewing, our festival winner.

This was very closely followed by Green Man IPA at 4.0% ABV and from North Cotswold brewery, the local ales winner. The festival cider winner was Priors Tipple Elderflower Infusion a 6.7% medium sweet cider.

Both Friday and Saturday were busy with approximately 1000 people attending over the three days, the vast majority arriving and departing on the GWR steam and diesel trains.

A lot of the beers and ciders had sold by close of play on Saturday, but we had a reasonable selection remaining at both stations for our Sunday customers who were met by a troupe of Morris Dancers. The bars closed at 3.30pm on Sunday with very little ullage, a pretty much perfect result.

Thanks must go to our wonderful army of volunteers, without whom the event could not happen and special thanks to Alan Stenton for his assistance in getting the business plan together. Also, Roger Merrett for his knowledgeable input into the selection of the beer list and cider co-ordinator James Fry.

Thanks go Rob James for looking after the Toddington Bar, Martyn Jackson for compiling the beer and cider lists, Chris Knight for the labels and Jenny for wearing the H&S hat so keeping CAMRA insurers happy. All helpers were sporting our new Festival Shirts sponsored by Pearson Cider.

I must also mention The Good Beer Company (Rob, Ali and Sam Brady) for collecting the London ales, as well as supplying and erecting the racking;

Mudway Marquees and of course GWR for their help and support. Everything considered a huge team effort.