Fancy sipping a local ale while travelling behind a steam locomotive? One of Leicestershire’s most unusual festivals is back this September, as the Great Central Railway’s much-loved Real Ale, Cider & Gin Festival returns from September 17 to 20.
The four-day celebration combines heritage rail travel with live music, food stalls and an impressive drinks line-up, turning the UK’s only double-track heritage railway into a rolling pub crawl.
More than 85 beers, 30 ciders and a selection of speciality gins and spirits will be available across the railway line, with festival bars popping up at stations including Loughborough, Quorn and Rothley. Better still, entry to the festival itself is free, meaning you can soak up the atmosphere, browse the bars and enjoy the entertainment without buying a train ticket.
The festival gets underway on Thursday with diesel trains, draught ales and snacks available from midday at Loughborough, before things ramp up on Friday and Saturday with live music, food vendors and a packed timetable of steam and diesel services running late into the evening.
Music fans can catch performances from local acts including Luke BP, The Waltzing Bumble Bees, Megan Iris, Ruth Chomik, Embers Duo, Not Now Cato, Java Duke and Jenny Wren across the weekend.
The real draw, though, is the chance to hop on and off heritage trains while sampling drinks from station bars along the route. It’s a unique way to experience the railway, whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast, a railway buff or simply looking for a different kind of weekend out.
Sunday offers a more laid-back finale, with all four bars remaining open into the afternoon, giving festivalgoers one last chance to enjoy a pint beside the tracks before the event comes to a close.
Train tickets are required for anyone wanting to travel on the railway and a range of options, including multi-day passes, are available.
Need to know
When: September 17-20 2026
Where: Great Central Railway, Leicestershire
How much: Festival entry is free; train travel requires a ticket.
For more information and tickets, visit the Great Central Railway event page.
Why go? Because there aren’t many places where you can spend the day hopping between steam trains, craft ales, live music and station-side bars. Cheers to that.
