Spa Valley Railway’s beer festival returns with 200 ales and heritage trains

The Spa Valley Railway will host its 16th Real Ale & Cider Festival in Tunbridge Wells from October 15-18, 2026, with free entry at three station venues and heritage train travel between them on Friday through Sunday. The event pairs around 200 real ales, 70 ciders and one of the country’s largest Kent Green Hop beer lineups with live music, food and scenic rides through the High Weald.

Why it matters: - The festival turns a heritage railway into a moving drinks event, creating a rare mix of tourism, live entertainment and local beer sales across Kent and East Sussex. - One of the country’s largest gatherings of Kent Green Hop beers gives visitors a limited-window taste of the hop harvest at peak freshness. - Free site entry lowers the barrier for casual visitors, while Rover tickets make it possible to experience all three stations in one trip.

What happened: - The Spa Valley Railway announced the return of its award-winning Real Ale & Cider Festival for Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October 2026. - The 16th edition opens at Tunbridge Wells West on Thursday evening, with the full three-station programme running Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October. - The festival will span Tunbridge Wells West, Groombridge and Eridge along the railway’s five-mile route. - Heritage trains will run between the venues from Friday to Sunday only. - There are no train services on Thursday.

The details: - Around 200 real ales will be on offer, along with 40 Kent Green Hop beers, 14 keg beers and 70 ciders. - Tunbridge Wells West will host full bands on the main stage inside the engine shed. - Groombridge will feature a more intimate acoustic lineup. - Eridge will add smaller bands and its own festival atmosphere. - Freshly prepared food will be available across the line. - Visitors can purchase a festival glass and start exploring from any site from Friday to Sunday. - Rover tickets allow unlimited train travel between the venues on those three days. - The railway has published the 2026 train timetable online. - Full event details, opening times and tickets are available here. - Card-carrying CAMRA members can receive a 25% discount on train travel when buying at a ticket office.

Between the lines: - The event is designed as more than a bar crawl, with the train journey functioning as part of the festival experience. - The High Weald setting and the mix of steam and heritage diesel services add a regional tourism angle beyond the beer list. - The focus on Kent Green Hop beers signals a strong local identity and a seasonal hook that cannot be replicated year-round. - Jonnie Pay, general manager of the Spa Valley Railway, said the format lets visitors arrive by heritage train, move between three different venues and enjoy the landscape as part of the day. - The railway also thanked Royal Tunbridge Wells Together for continued support and a marketing contribution.

What’s next: - Visitors are being urged to plan ahead, allow time to explore all three stations and enjoy the festival responsibly. - Advance Rover tickets and the latest beer and cider lists are available on the festival page. - Media enquiries and image requests go to Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR.

The bottom line: - The Spa Valley Railway is using its tracks as the festival site, not just the transport link, to create one of the country’s most distinctive autumn beer events.