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• And now for the Eighth Real Ale Festival...
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The weekend of 15 and 16 September 2007 will see the annual Somerset CAMRA Real Ale Festival, held in partnership with the West Somerset Railway. Incredibly, this highly successful event is now in its eighth year!
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• Extended Beer and Cider Menu...
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Somerset CAMRA say: "Last year’s increased beer choice was such a success we are increasing the order again. We plan to offer up to 100 real ales and several ciders, many of them from our award winning local breweries such as Butcombe, Cotleigh, Cottage, Exmoor, Glastonbury and RCH. In addition to these, there will be a wide selection of ales from all around the UK, showcasing the incredible wide range of tastes and beer styles produced by our ever-expanding army of micro breweries.
We plan to have a locally brewed festival special beer and at least one cask conditioned lager. We will have a supply of local ciders, some perry and wine.
Buffet cars on most trains will also stock some beer."
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• Food and Soft Drinks...
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A static buffet car will offer a range of pasties, snacks, sandwiches, and soft drinks throughout the festival. Other hot food outlets are situated very close to the station.
On Saturday evening, scurrying from the Somerset and Dorset area of the West Country comes a flurry of rats, in fact the BAG OF RATS, a high energy quartet that has successfully toured around the local area gigging at festivals, pubs and folk clubs, entertaining the crowds with their unique take on folk with influences in Traditional English, Blues, Irish, Jazz, Country, a smidgen of Ska, a hint of alternative and a peppering of psychedelic skiffle.
On Sunday afternoon THE TONE VALLEY JAZZBAND will perform their easy to listen to, traditional jazz melodies. Now entering their 48th year, they would like to thank the producers of cask-conditioned ale for their success and hope that with the right blend of ale and good living, they will make their goal of fifty years. Just the ticket for a Sunday session!
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• Entry, Glasses and Tokens...
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Entry will yet again be FREE. You will however need to purchase a glass which you can keep. A souvenir pint glass will be available, along with a cheaper alternative.
A token ticket system will operate at the bar. Please purchase your tokens when you buy your glass. No cash will be taken at the bar and unused tokens are refundable.
The bar and entertainment will be situated in the centre of the station platform, all under cover. There will be a seated area and also static railway carriages for eating and drinking. All of the usual station facilities will be open.
For local accommodation enquiries please contact Minehead Tourist Information Centre on 01643 702624.
Members of the local branch of Campaign for Real Ale, all of them volunteers, will staff the festival bar. They will be happy to tell you all about the featured breweries, their diverse range of ales and, of course, about CAMRA.
Well worth the effort...
The very best way to visit our festival is of course to arrive by train on the scenic West Somerset Railway.
A special full line round trip train fare of only £10 is available to all CAMRA members. This discount fare is valid for full line return journeys from either Bishops Lydeard to Minehead or vice versa. To obtain this bargain fare you must show your CAMRA membership card at the ticket office or, better still, enter your membership number on the advancebooking form and avoid queuing!
For pre-booked train ticket holders only there will be a free bus from Taunton to Bishops Lydeard and return. It will connect with the 7pm Saturday evening train and also the return 10.50pm train from Minehead.
Combined bus and train tickets from Taunton to Minehead are available on the Cook’s number 50 “Steamlink” service.
Saturday daytime: A shuttle bus service is now offered by Cook’s number 50 “Steamlink” service supported by Somerset County Council. This new shuttle service and half-hourly buses on First’s route 28 now provides the best service ever between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. Cook’s 50 “Steamlink” runs from Taunton Railway Station, Castleway in the town centre and the Silk Mills car parks to Bishops Lydeard. The First 28’s run from Taunton Bus Station and Taunton Railway Station. See www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/steamlink.html for a full bus timetable.
Saturday evening: A special FREE bus service will be provided by Somerset CAMRA for PRE-BOOKED TRAIN TICKET HOLDERS ONLY. The free bus will leave Taunton Castleway at 18.30 and Taunton Railway Station bridge bus stop at 18.38 to connect with the 19.00 train from Bishops Lydeard. The return bus will leave Bishops Lydeard at midnight allowing almost three hours at the festival. Please reserve your seat using the booking form.
Sunday: Cook’s number 50 “Steamlink” service operates as on Saturday except that it does not call at Silk Mills car park on Sunday. First route 28 buses depart Taunton Bus Station at 09.30 and 11.30 running via Taunton Railway Station to Bishops Lydeard. Return First 28 buses depart Bishops Lydeard Station at 15.45 and 17.45 with 18.47 and 19.47 buses from the Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard village.
Booking Form...
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• Through train from Nottingham to Minehead...
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Update 13 August: train reported as CANCELLED
A Hertfordshire Rail Tours special excursion from Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, Tamworth and Birmingham New Street right to the platform at Minehead Station for the CAMRA Real Ale Festival. This evvent has become one of those annual favourites which is just too good to miss! What finer way to while away the afternoon than to enjoy convivial company with scores to different ales to sample and watching the steam trains come and go! Our fares include travel on our special train right through to Minehead. Should you wish to take a journey on the WSR’s own steam-hauled trains during the afternoon you’ll be entitled to half-price travel. The Standard Class fare is only £39.50 (Junior £29.50) and a buffet car is provided. First Class non-dining is £52.50. Please contact Hertfordshire Rail Tours.
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• Timetables, Booking Form
| Timetables now available. Booking Form here...
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Eighth Real Ale Festival 15-16 September 2007
