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• And now for the Eighth Real Ale Festival...
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The weekend of 13 and 14 September 2008 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 ninth year!
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• Extended Beer and Cider Menu...
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Somerset CAMRA say: "2007's increased beer choice was such a success we are matching that volume again. We plan to offer up to 100 real ales, several ciders and some perry, many selected from the growing army of Somerset breweries such as Abbey, Bath, Butcombe, Cheddar, Cotleigh, Cottage, Exmoor, Glastonbury, Moor, Newmans, Odcombe, Quantock, RCH, Taunton and Yeovil. In addition to these, there will be a wide selection of ales from all around the UK, including (for example) Shropshire and the West Midlands. These will showcase the incredibly wide range of tastes and styles produced by our multitude of micro breweries. We plan to have locally brewed festival special beers and a cask conditioned lager. Buffet cars on most trains will stock some bottled beer. We will also have wine available."
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• Food and Soft Drinks...
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Outlets on and adjacent to Minehead station will offer a range of hot and cold food, sandwiches, and soft drinks.
On Saturday evening, around 8.30pm, will come scurrying a flurry of rats, in fact, a BAG OF RATS! A high energy quartet, they tour the local area gigging at festivals, pubs and folk clubs. They entertain the crowds with their unique take on folk, with influences in traditional English, Blues, Irish, Jazz, and Country, a smidgen of Ska, a hint of alternative, and a peppering of psychedelic skiffle.
Sunday afternoon THE TONE VALLEY JAZZ BAND will perform their easy to listen to traditional jazz sounds. Now entering their 50th year, they put their success and longevity down to cask-conditioned ale and good living. 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. Buy your tokens when you buy your glass. No cash will be taken at the bar although unused tokens are fully refundable.
Taunton Brewing Company are kindly sponsoring our souvenir glasses. We will also have a limited supply of souvenir festival tee and polo shirts with the TBC logo.
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. Or try our Bed & Breakfast page.
Volunteers from Somerset Branch of Campaign for Real Ale will staff the festival bar, sales and membership stands. They will be happy to tell you all about the featured breweries, their diverse range of ales and 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, still 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 advance form (available soon) 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 6.35pm Saturday evening train and also the return 10.50pm train from Minehead.
Saturday daytime: First Somerset and Avon service 28 now operates every 30 minutes between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard. The bus starts from Taunton Bus Station and operates via Taunton Railway Station. The Station stop is at the south side interchange next to platform 2 and from stop C in Station Road, out of the main station entrance and then left under the bridge. Contact First on 01823 272033 or visit www.travelinesw.com.
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 6.05pm and Taunton Railway Station bridge bus stop at 6.13pm to connect with the 6.35pm 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: First route 28 buses depart Taunton Bus Station at 9.30am and 11.30am running via Taunton Railway Station to Bishops Lydeard. Return First 28 buses depart Bishops Lydeard Stationat 3.45pm and 5.45pm, also at 6.47pm and 7.47pm buses from the Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard village
Click here for the Booking Form.
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• Timetables, Booking Form
| Timetables now available.
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Ninth Real Ale Festival 13-14 September 2008
