Timetable Alteration : The Saturday Evening Service will be operated by our DMU and NOT by steam.
Ale lovers and rail lovers alike will converge on the Churnet Valley Railway on Saturday July 13th and Sunday July 14th when our heritage attraction steams ahead with its five mile-long beer long festival for the third year running.
A joint effort with Titanic Brewery and pubs near the railway, the event dubbed ‘the longest beer festival in the country’, the RailAleTrail will offer more than 100 real ales and 40 ciders served from bars on two trains at three stations, and six pubs. Plus, new this year, we are linking up with the Foxlowe Arts Centre in Leek town centre with a regular connecting free mini bus service.
The festival gets underway on the Friday afternoon and evening, at July 12th at Kingsley & Froghall Station with live music from the Potteries Folk Group and the Real Ale Bar.
On Saturday 13th July, bars will be open on both trains from 10.30am and at all three station, Kingsley & Froghall, Cheddleton and Consall Stations. There will then be a continuous service along the valley until 21:57 (Froghall) & 23:02 (Cheddleton)
Sunday 14th July sees a two train service from 10.30am until 5.30pm, with the station bars & on train bars open once again.
To complete this popular weekend, live music (Blues and Pop) and barbeque will be at Froghall Station throughout the weekend only.
Also joining in the event will be pubs in or near the valley – The Boat Inn at Cheddleton, The Black Lion at Consall Forge, The Railway Inn at Froghall, The Blacksmiths Arms at Kinglsey Holt, The Marquis of Granby at Ipstones, The Roebuck in Leek and The Foxlowe at Leek – each with their own special selection of real ales and ciders.
“Our pervious RailAleTrail festivals were a great success and this year we are expecting an even bigger turn-out of real ale fans. A superb range of beers and ciders combined with a journey along the valley and a visit to our partner pubs will make it a really memorable experience,” said Churnet Valley Railway Chairman Anthony Hancock.
Local brewers feature large in the event, with a good proportion of the ales coming from Staffordshire and the Midlands. A catalogue of all the beers and ciders will be available at all ten locations and via two websites, www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk and www.titanicbrewery.co.uk.
No booking is required and entrance to the station bars is free. Normal prices will apply for train journeys. For more information call 01538 360522 or visit the Railway’s website.