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Somerset CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival 2015
| Saturday 12 September 2015 and Sunday 13 September 2015 |
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The weekend of 12 & 13 September 2015 are the dates of the 16th Somerset CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival, to be held on the Minehead Railway Station platform at the West Somerset Railway (TA24 5BG).
The Festival will be open from 11am until 11pm on Saturday and between noon and 4pm on Sunday.
Stocklinch Ales of Stocklinch near Ilminster have kindly agreed to be the festival sponsor this year.
The best way to get there is, of course, by train on the West Somerset Railway.
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| Real ale, cider, perry and wine |
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We plan to have around 120 real ales, many local ciders, perry and a limited selection of wine.
The growing army of Somerset based breweries will, as usual, be very well represented.
A diverse range of tastes and beer styles will be sourced from a multitude of Great British breweries from near and far.
Many rare and unusual brews will be available including festival specials.
There will be beer brewed to celebrate Somerset CAMRA's 40th anniversary and the weekend is also set to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's achievement of reigning longer as British monarch than Queen Victoria.
That landmark is due to be reached just two days before the festival opens and will surely warrant a special ale or two.
One way or another, there will be plenty of good reasons to raise a glass or two during our festival.
Even better, beer and cider prices will remain held at £3.20 per pint or £1.60 per half.
Somerset brewed ales will be available from most service train buffet cars, both polypin dispensed and bottled, subject to availability. A dedicated cider bar will be set up in a static railway carriage at Minehead.
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| Food and soft drinks... |
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The Turntable Cafe on Minehead station will offer a range of hot and cold food, sandwiches and soft drinks.
A Cornish pasty van will be positioned by the station entrance on both days and there will be a hog roast on Saturday evening.
There are several other food outlets close to the festival site offering plenty of choice for the hungry festival goer.
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| Live entertainment... |
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On Saturday evening, between 8pm and 10.30pm, welcome 'Time Travellers', a local 4 piece band. Recently formed, the band has a wealth of experience and ability. Strong original material draws on broad influences from R'n'B to Celtic, and is mixed with a crop of quality covers. Well received from pubs to festivals, it's a good gig when the audience wants to dance and sing along, and they usually do.
Who else on Sunday afternoon but old friends 'The Tone Valley Jazz Band' performing their easy listening traditional jazz numbers - it's their 56th year playing together. They reckon success and longevity is down to cask conditioned ale and good living.
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| Entry, glasses and tokens |
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Entrance to the festival will again be free, though you will need to purchase a glass which you can keep. You may choose a festival souvenir glass for £3 or a plastic alternative for just 50p. Both types of glass will be available in pints and half pints.
A ticket token system will operate at the bar. Buy your tokens when you buy your glass. One token for a half-pint, two tokens for a pint. No cash will be taken at the bar, although unused tokens will be fully refundable.
A souvenir glass and 8 token 'starter pack', priced £15, will be available to speed up service. This pack price offers an 80p discount compared to buying tokens and glass separately. The starter packs include a festival programme and will be available for sale at Bishops Lydeard station until 11am on Saturday morning, subject to availability. They will also be available at Minehead station throughout the festival.
Festival branded clothing will be available to buy at the CAMRA membership stand.
A token ticket system will operate at the bar. Buy your token tickets when you buy your glass. One ticket for a half-pint, two tickets for a pint. No cash will be taken at the bar, although unused token tickets will be fully refundable.
A souvenir glass and token 'starter pack' will be available to speed up service at peak times following each train arrival.
Somerset CAMRA will also have festival branded souvenir clothing for sale at the membership stand.
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| Station facilities |
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The real ale bar and entertainment will be under cover on Minehead Railway Station platform.
Static railway carriages will ensure there are plenty of seats available.
All of the usual station facilities will be open during the festival.
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| Accommodation |
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Lots of accommodation to suit all requirements can be found at Minehead, Taunton and all points in between.
Enquiries should be directed to Taunton Tourist Information Centre on 01823 336344 or Minehead Visitor Centre on 01643 702624.
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| Getting there... |
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The very best way to arrive at the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale & Cider Festival is of course on a West Somerset Railway train!
A 10% saving may be made by purchasing an advance online discounted Day Rover ticket, priced at £16.65 (£15.10 senior).
Saturday 12 September 2015 
Sunday 13 September2015
CAMRA members may purchase a further discounted Day Rover ticket for £15.20 (£14.60 senior).
To use a CAMRA member discounted ticket you MUST carry your valid CAMRA membership card for inspection on the day(s) of travel. One ticket per day, per member.
Discounted tickets are now available online. Deadline for advance bookings is Monday 7 September 2015.
Please book online at www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk or ring 01643 704996. If you wish to book by post then please send a letter stating the tickets you require, along with a cheque and a stamped addressed envelope. Post to West Somerset Railway, The Railway Station, MINEHEAD, TA24 5BG.
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| Connecting bus services... |
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'Buses of Somerset' route 28 runs between Taunton bus station (stop C), Taunton railway station (south side stop A) and Bishops Lydeard WSR station.
Please check bus times before travelling by calling Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit www.travelinesw.com or www.busesofsomerset.co.uk
Saturday: 'Buses of Somerset' route 28 departs from Taunton bus station at 0800, 0830, 0855, 0925, then half-hourly until 1755. Buses leaving before 0900 and after 1545 call at the Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard, a short walk from the WSR station. Taunton railway station departures are 10 minutes later and the journey takes 30 minutes. Return buses leave Bishops Lydeard railway station at 16 and 46 minutes past each hour until 1816. Later buses depart from near the Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard at 1900 & 1945.
Sunday: 'Buses of Somerset' route 28 departs from Taunton bus station on the hour from 0900. Taunton railway station departures are 7 minutes later and the journey takes 26 minutes. Return buses leave Bishops Lydeard railway station at 31 minutes past each hour until 1831. A later bus departs from near the Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard at 1941.
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