Beer and Cider Festival at the Victorian Station: Over 270 Drinks and Train Rides.

Beer and Cider Festival in Tunbridge Wells

According to The Sun: Relaxing with beer doesn’t have to take place in a pub – we invite you to a festival featuring over 270 drinks at the Victorian railway station.

The Spa Valley Railway's real ale and cider festival, held in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, celebrates its 14th year, showcasing a variety of ales and ciders for visitors.

Spa Valley Railway

The festival runs along a railway line with a 180-year history, extending five miles from Tunbridge Wells west to Eridge, where festival-goers can enjoy cold beer while admiring vintage trains.

What Awaits Visitors

At this unique event, you can enjoy the fest at the stations or buy a train ticket to ride the scenic route of the Spa Valley Railway.

Visitors have the opportunity to choose from over 200 types of beer from 50 breweries, including more than 30 Kentish green hop beers. There are also 14 cask ales and about 70 varieties of cider.

Guests are offered excellent drinks, including the "Amarillo" from Crouch Vale, which has been named

Campaign for Real Ale’s 2024 Beer of Britain

.

Throughout the event at Tunbridge Wells station, you can expect live music, and street performers will entertain at Groombridge and Eridge stations. After enjoying a delicious pint, you can savor good food, as several vendors will offer Thai dishes and barbecue.

“After last year's record attendance, we hope this year will be just as popular,”

- noted Johnny Pye, one of the organizers and managing director of Spa Valley Railway.

“Many brewers have prepared special offers for this event, including cask ales that will be available only in barrels, and of course, the famous Kentish green hop beers that can only be tasted at this time of year.”

Festival Details

Entry to all bars and festivals at the stations is free. However, visitors will need to purchase a souvenir glass and a beer card. Train rides require a ticket, which can be bought at the station or online.

Each train ticket costs 20 pounds for adults and 10 pounds for children, including unlimited rides. Guests can take beer with them, thanks to the buffet and bar on board.

All funds raised during the event will support Spa Valley Railway in achieving a financial goal of £300,000 for replacing the Broom Lane bridge between High Rocks and Groombridge.

The main station in Tunbridge Wells is just a 10-minute walk away, with trains from London and Hastings. Trains from London also stop at Eridge station, where visitors can transfer to the Spa Valley Railway platform.

Throughout the year, Spa Valley Railway hosts many other events and themed lunches. For example, during Christmas, visitors can take part in the “Polar Express,” where actors perform a fairy tale story during the journey.

This unique experience is not the only chance for Brits to ride on a vintage train. From September 5 to 7, the London Transport Museum invites people to ride on a vintage Tube train from 1938.

Spavalleyrailway

Train rides also take place on a rarely used “secret” railway line called the North Curve, which connects Croxley to Rickmansworth.

If you are looking for a place to stay, you can stop in a converted Victorian train carriage with breathtaking sea views. Sunray by Bloom Stays, located on Dungeness beach, offers a spacious communal room with a wood stove, three luxurious bedrooms, and all modern cooking amenities.

The UK also has a traditional seaside village with a retro amusement park and a vintage miniature railway.

Spavalleyrailway The beer and cider festival in Tunbridge Wells has become an important event in the life of the local community, attracting not only beer lovers but also families with children. Outdoor events, live performances by musicians, and a wide selection of delicious food create a unique atmosphere that is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent. The successful organization and support of the event by breweries and sponsors ensure its popularity and future successes.