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ZuluA virtual tour of Rails & Ales Beer Festival held at South Devon Railway Staverton Station, offering a great selection of ales, craft beers and ciders.
This Rails & Ales Beer Festival is a small social affair on the August Bank Holiday weekend. During the day it’s fairly quiet, not getting busy until late afternoon. You make your own entertainment as there are no bands playing, but if your with the right group of people that doesn’t matter. The ticket office is turned into the ale bar and the ciders, craft, wines etc can be found in the garden. It’s cash only, so make sure you have enough before arriving.
The first time I came there was a couple old train carriages which you could climb aboard and enjoy a drink, which I thought added to the character of the festival, sadly the next time I came there was only the food carriage and no others. I did once witness someone try to climb down from a carriage facing outward and fell. Perhaps this may be a reason they have taken them away, but surely it’s common sense not to climb a ladder with your back to it 🤦♂️
As the festival is free entry you can come and go as you please. We deciding to walk up to the Sea Trout Inn for a beer, but it’s a lot further than you think.
The last trains are usually around 9pm depending on the direction you want to go, check the time table on the Rails & Ales website. I tend to leave earlier and then carry the night on in Totnes.
They actually have a few beer festivals during the year with this, the spring and the 1940’s. It’s a shame they don’t have a special price for those just wanting to go to the festivals at Staverton, the midway point on the line. You have to buy the full £16 ticket which covers the full line to/from Totnes and Buckfastleigh, which makes it quite an expensive day out.
The bar will be open from 11.00am until late (6.00pm Monday). Food and light refreshments will be available throughout the day.
- A barbecue on Friday & Saturday evening
- Chilli on Sunday evening
- Buffet car serving a variety of hot and cold foods and soft drinks
- A ‘just for fun’ quiz on Sunday evening
It’s free entry to the festival, but it’s a cash only. Make sure you have enough on you before arriving.
- Pint is £3.40
- Half is £1.70
- No £50 notes.
- No cash machine.
If traveling by train standard train fares apply. Single and return fares are available between Totnes, Staverton and Buckfastleigh.
- Adult £16
- Child (0-2) Free
- Child (3-15) £9
- Senior Citizen £15
- Family (2 adults & 2 children) £45
- Dogs £1
- Special fares are available for groups of 10 or more visitors booking together
The station was opened by the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway on 1 May 1872. The railway was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway in 1897 and this in turn was nationalised into British Railways on 1 January 1948.
- The station closed to passengers in November 1958 although goods traffic on the line continued until 7 September 1962.
- It was re-opened by the Dart Valley Railway, a heritage railway, on 5 April 1969. The South Devon Railway Trust took over the running of the line on 1 January 1991.
Over 45 real ales and ciders plus craft beer, wines, Prosecco, Pimms and a cocktail bar.
The Staverton Buffet Coach opens to serve a variety of hot & cold snacks, teas, coffees and soft drinks all day. Be quick though the steak & ale pies and pasties sell out fast.
- A barbecue on Friday & Saturday evening
- Chilli on Sunday evening
There are no bands playing, just trains coming and going all day long from both directions.
- On Sunday evening there is a quiz just for fun.
Staverton, Totnes TQ9 6AG. If you are visiting the festival, there is no car parking at Staverton, so take the train from Totnes or Buckfastleigh. There’s a large free car park at Buckfastleigh or, if you’re coming by train, the station at Totnes Riverside is about a 500 yard walk behind the main line station.
- Car, There is No Parking at Staverton Station.
- Bus, from Totnes the catch the 88 from Coronation Road, get off at Huxhams Cross and then its a 13 minute walk down the hill.
- Train, The station at Totnes Riverside is about a 500 yard walk behind the main line station. Running all day with departures from each end of the line (Buckfastleigh and Totnes) at frequent intervals throughout the day. £16 for a return adult.
- Taxi
- Badger Cabs 01803 840400
- Totnes taxis ltd 01803 868686
- South Hams Cabs 01803 840404
- South West Taxis 07803 126396
- The last trains are usually around 9pm depending on the direction you want to go, check the time table on the Rails & Ales website.
- Always ask for a taster and don’t be afraid to try 3 or 4 before you settle on one.
- Never ask for a full pint, you can’t over fill a pint!
- Free drinking water is provided.
- It’s a cash only festival, so make sure you have enough on you before arriving.
- There is No cash machine at the festival.
- Don’t forget the sunscreen, if it’s a scorcher.
- No under-18s are permitted.
- For more info go to www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/events/rails-ales/
- www.drinkaware.co.uk
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