Press Release
Alight here! Next stop on the Pubs. Pints. People. tour is the Cotswolds
The popular CAMRA podcast Pubs. Pints. People. continues its UK tour by stopping off in the North Cotswolds to discuss everything railways and beers ahead of the local Ale & Steam festival taking place on 27th, 28th & 29th May.
Episode 2 which airs today (4 May) explores the unique relationship between ale and steam, covering beer/ train ticking, brewing under the shadows of the archways in Bermondsey London and unique festival locations on steam engines and railways stations.
Hosts sit down with Ale & Steam festival organiser Alan McLellan to learn more about a local beer festival with a twist – it runs across Winchcombe and Toddington Stations. This year the festival theme is ales from the North Midlands area (plus approx. a dozen local). Visitors can sample up to 50 ales and 12 ciders across either station or on the train.
McLellan says: “We are well situated in the North Cotswolds to enjoy fantastic beer and pubs and the Ale & Steam festival really helps showcase some of the best to offer. Head down to the festival for the chance to travel to and from stations all while enjoying a pint of fantastic local brew en route!”
The episode also shines a spotlight on other train-themed festivals in the CAMRA calendar, including the Kent & East Sussex Beer Festival in June which runs along the railway from Tenterden to Northiam and to Bodiam, and the Chappel Beer Festival at the East Anglian Railway Museum in early September.
Railway enthusiasts also get a chance to hear directly from celebrated beer author Des De Moor, who explores the origin of the famous Bermondsey Beer Mile in London, a mile long strip of brewers nestled under the railway arches.
Podcast producer Katie Wiles says: “Through our interviews in this episode it’s abundantly clear that there is a lot of synergy between rail and beer enthusiasts. Des De Moor refers to the ‘nostalgia of steam’, and how the real ale movement has been partly driven by nostalgia as well. I’d urge anyone who has an interest in beer or rail to give it a listen!”
The podcast episode “Ale & Steam” is now available to download from Apple Podcast, Spotify, Acast and wherever you get your podcasts.
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