We would like to thank all our fellow ale drinkers for being one of the 1500 that attended the event on July 7th & 8th. We hope it was as enjoyable for you as it was for us. We would also like to extend huge gratitude to our 50 or so volunteers from many CAMRA branches across the country that help make this possible after the many months of planning.

We look forward to welcoming you in 2018!

Confirmation - Festival date set for 2018

Friday 6th July 2018 & Saturday 7th July 2018

click to get in touch

Beer and Cider Lists (Both subject to change)

2017 Beer List - Beer List with tasting notes (final)
2017 Cider List - Cider and perry list

When

Friday 7th July 2017

12:00 - 23:00

Saturday 8th July 2017

11:00 - 23:00

Festival Location 2017

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse

Luddington Road

Stratford-upon-Avon

Warwickshire

CV37 9SE

Racecourse Website

Find us on google maps

Festival organised by Shakespeare CAMRA

Sponsors

We thank our sponsors for their support (click to find out more):
Hook Norton Brewery / Sharp’s Brewery / Stratford upon Avon Brewery / Wye Valley Brewery / / Purity Brewery / Everards Brewery/ Fullers Brewery / Pershore Brewery / Cannon Royall Brewery / Charles Wells Brewery / Hogans Cider Fleece Inn, Bretforton / Boar's Head, Hampton Lucy / Stratford Alehouse, Stratford upon Avon / The Bear, Stratford upon Avon / The Coach and Horses, Harvington

                                   

Entrance (Pay at the Door)

£10 package to include a £1 souvenir Festival Glass (fully refundable, if undamaged) and £5 of Beer/Cider tokens, (Card carrying CAMRA members showing a valid membership card will get 2 free half pint tokens after entry) Once inside the Festival the Real Ale and Cider bars only accept Drink Tokens, which are available via the entrance area (No cash is transfered for beverages over the bar)

Notes for Visitors

We are planning to provide 70+ Beers and 30+ Ciders & Perries for the 2017 festival.
Although the festival is planned to be open during Friday & Saturday, it will only be open until the Real Ale, Cider & Perries run out

Food at Festival

External Food Vendors: The All Day Breakfast Club (Food Station) / Pig Roast (Lazy Pig Co.) / Mexico Tex/Mex (Cafe Mexico) / Pipers Crisps
Food will be available as follows:
Fri:12noon to 9:30pm (approx)
Sat:11am to 9:30pm (approx)

Entertainment

Fri: A quiet day for discussion and friendly banter
Sat: 12:30pm - 2:30pm - Poor Boys of Worcester, 3:00pm - 5:00pm - Ben Holder Duo, 5:30pm - 7:30pm - Karmalyte

Festival Support

Shakespeare CAMRA thanks all the unpaid CAMRA members who volunteer and help to support our Beer & Cider Festivals.

Festival Layout

Find out where the Entrance, Bars and Beer Tokens can be found:.

Travel to the Festival

The Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse is well signposted with brown tourist signs from Stratford-upon-Avon town centre. Walk: About 25 mins from town centre, 30 mins from the Railway Station Train: Stratford-upon-Avon Railway Station (SAV) Minibus Shuttle: Free periodic service from the Railway Station to the Racecourse and then return . First come - first served only. Proposed timetable: Friday. Leaving the Railway Station 11:45, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30, 20:30, 21:30. Leaving the Racecourse 12:05, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00. Saturday. Leaving the Railway Station 10:45, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30, 20:30, 21:30. Leaving the Racecourse 11:05, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, 21:00, 22:00. Taxi: Available locally within the Stratford-upon-Avon area Camping: Available at the Racecourse Touring Park http://www.stratfordtouringpark.com/
Please plan your journey to and from the festival sensibly.

Supporting The Shakespeare Hospice

During 2007 to 2016 the Beer and Cider Festival has helped raise over £9,500 for the charity.

Previous Beer and Cider Lists

Click here:2016 Beer List
Click here:2016 Cider List

History of Stratford-upon-Avon Beer & Cider Festival

2017:

Will be our 11th festival at the Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse.

2016:

Was our 10th festival at the Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,450 visitors. 73 real ales (plus 36 ciders and perries) Theme: Wales, The West & the Best The 'official' opening of the 2016 festival took place on the friday afternoon by the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon and a cheque was presented to The Shakespeare Hospice for £510 which was received from the 2015 event The Shakespeare Hospice stall activities raised over £1,000 during the 2016 festival Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Gower Power Visitors voted 'Cider of the Festival' as Wilson's Cuckoo Spit

2015:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,400 visitors. 75 real ales (plus 38 ciders and perries) Theme: War of the Roses The 'official' opening of the 2015 festival took place on the Friday afternoon by the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon and a cheque was presented to The Shakespeare Hospice for £574 which was received from the 2014 event The Shakespeare Hospice stall activities raised just over £1,291 during the 2015 festival Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Marble Earl Grey IPA Visitors voted 'Cider of the Festival' as Wilson's Cuckoo Spit

2014:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,500 visitors. 72 real ales (plus 37 ciders and perries) Theme: Shakespeare's Favourites The 'official' opening of the 2014 festival took place on the Friday afternoon by the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon and a cheque was presented to The Shakespeare Hospice for £600 which was received from the 2013 event The Shakespeare Hospice tombola stall raised £375 during the 2014 festival Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Exmoor Beast Visitors voted 'Cider of the Festival' as Lily The Pink

2013:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,400 visitors. 58 real ales (plus 25 ciders and perries) Theme: Four Corners & Local The 'official' opening of the 2013 festival took place on the Friday afternoon by the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon and a cheque was presented to The Shakespeare Hospice for £500 which was received from the 2012 event Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Milk Stout from the Bristol Beer Factory

2012:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,016 visitors 59 real ales (plus 20 ciders and perries) Theme: Local and Coastal Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Tally Ho! from Palmers brewery

2011:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx 1,000 visitors 55 real ales (plus 16 ciders and perries) Theme: Middle England and the Celts A cheque was presented to The Shakespeare Hospice for £600 Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Ian's Pale Ale from the Purple Moose brewery

2010:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,200 visitors 52 real ales (plus 19 ciders and perries) Theme: East meets West Midlands Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Kipling from the Thornbridge brewery

2009:

Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx 1,100 visitors 51 real ales (plus 14 ciders and perries) Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Dr Morton's Mule Cooler from the Abbeydale brewery 2008: Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. Approx. 1,000 visitors 55 real ales (plus 13 ciders and perries) A cheque was presented to The Shakespeare Hospice for £200 Visitors voted 'Beer of the Festival' as Williams Bros Roisin 2007: Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse. 1st Beer & Cider Festival. John Ross, Festival Organiser, said: "We are delighted to be able to create an excellent opportunity for local people to sample the best of brewing and cider making in the area. We expect this to be well attended and to be the first of many festivals." 40 real ales (plus ciders and perries)