Stockport is set to welcome back one of the largest beer and cider festivals in the North West, featuring hundreds of brews and a promise of 'midsummer madness'. The event, now in its 38th year, will take place at the Masonic Guildhall on Wellington Road South from June 18 to 20.
What to Expect at the Festival
Attendees can sample around 280 beers, ciders, and perrys sourced from independent and local producers. The volunteer-led festival, coordinated by the Stockport and South Manchester CAMRA Branch, will showcase award-winning local brewers like Marble and Cloudwater, as well as cask beers from Poland's popular T.E.A brewpub in Krakow.
Highlights of the Event
The festival will feature all five category winners from CAMRA's longest-running home-brew competition. A special 4% Festival ale, brewed by Rochdale's Wakey Wakey and served from an old-style wooden cask, will be available. Other offerings include Wobbly Bob from Heywood's Phoenix Brewery and Joseph Holt's Mild from their Cheetham Hill brewery.
Stockport's Runaway Brewery will return with their key-keg bar, offering a dozen different beers and special festival collaborations. The selection of 40 ciders and perrys will come from small producers like Dunham Press, Macclesfield's SIDa, and Furness Vale's High Peak Cider.
Low and no-alcohol options will be provided by Thornbridge in Bakewell, Norway's Lervig, RedWillow in Macclesfield, and Barcelona's Moritz. This year's charity stall will support Reuben's Retreat in Glossop, which aids families who have lost a child or have a child with medical complexities.
Entertainment and Family Activities
Outside of drinks, the festival will offer food stalls, live entertainment, pub games, and for the first time, a family area with a colouring competition. The winner will receive a £50 Almond Pub Group voucher and a case of beer.
Live music across the three days will be curated by The Stockport Music Story, featuring acts like the Stockport Ukulele Band, Blind Tiger, 90 Proof, and New Rose. A closing party on Saturday night will feature The Tall Faces with special guest Pete Maclaine, who toured with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the 1960s.
Organiser's Comments
“Thanks to all our volunteers and sponsors, we are once again able to present the biggest selection of beer, ciders and perries in the North West,” said festival organiser Jim Flynn. "The festival has something for everyone to enjoy, so please come and join us for some midsummer madness."
Free tickets can be booked in advance for CAMRA members, while general admission starts from £5.
