Crewe Rail Ale Festival 2026
4–6 September 2026
Crewe Heritage Centre
Our festival charity
St Luke’s Hospice
We are proud to support St Luke’s Hospice as our festival charity. Founded in 1988, St Luke’s provides expert, compassionate care for people living with life limiting illnesses across mid and south Cheshire, helping them to live the life they can.
Their services are wide ranging and free to patients and families, including day hospice care, support for people staying at the hospice, St Luke’s at Home, family support and counselling, bereavement support, and a lymphoedema service. As a charity they rely on donations to keep that care going. So, if you can, please give generously.
Donate to St Luke’s Hospice →Our sponsors
The festival runs only thanks to our generous sponsors and advertisers.
What’s on the bar
Over 60 beers and ciders across the weekend. A full timetable of cask, keg, cider and bottles. All aboard.
Full beer and cider list published nearer the festival. Subject to availability, so when it is gone, it is gone.
Food vendors
Grab a bite before your tastebuds leave the station.
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[What they serve, for example wood fired pizza, gourmet burgers, vegan options]
[Vendor name]
[What they serve]
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[What they serve]
The venue
Crewe Heritage Centre
There is nowhere quite like it. Set among working signal boxes, historic locomotives and the famous APT (Advanced Passenger Train), standing alongside Crewe North Junction, where trains still sound their horns as they pass, the Heritage Centre is a beer festival venue and a grand day out rolled into one.
For the rail enthusiast it’s a pilgrimage; for everyone else it’s an unforgettable backdrop to a great pint. Wander the exhibits between halves, take in the Advanced Passenger Train and the miniature railway, and raise a glass in the town that built the railways.
- Historic locomotives & the Advanced Passenger Train
- Working heritage signal boxes
- Viewing platform over the West Coast Main Line
- Step-free access to the main festival hall
Getting here
By train
It does not get more fitting. Crewe is one of Britain’s great railway junctions, directly served from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Chester and beyond. The Heritage Centre is around a 20 minute walk from Crewe Station.
By car & parking
Sat-nav postcode CW1 2DB. Note: on busier days the venue may reserve the main car park for Blue Badge holders, so allow time and consider using nearby town-centre car parks.
By bus
Routes to Crewe: Christadelphian Hall
8, 12, 12A, 13, 37, 38, 39, 84, 84X, 85, 103
Routes from Crewe: The Terrace
8, 12, 13, 37, 38, 39, 84, 84X, 85, 103
Accessibility & inclusivity
We want everyone to enjoy the festival. Here is what to expect at the venue, and how we keep things welcoming for all.
Step free festival hall
The main Exhibition Hall, where the bars are, is all on one level and fully step free, with a mix of carpet and concrete flooring. You are welcome to bring your own wheelchair or mobility scooter. It is a large indoor and outdoor site, so do charge up before you arrive.
Exhibits with steps
Please note that some of the venue’s heritage attractions are not fully accessible. The signal boxes, the Advanced Passenger Train and the miniature railway involve steps or a sit astride design and cannot all be reached step free. Full details, including step counts, are on the venue’s accessibility page linked below.
Blue Badge parking
Accessible spaces are by the main entrance on a first come basis and fill quickly, so please arrive early. On busy days the main car park may be limited to Blue Badge holders.
Accessible toilet
An accessible toilet with baby changing is located by the main hall entrance.
Assistance dogs
Assistance and guide dogs are welcome to the main hall and all outside spaces, with water bowls available on site.
Hidden disabilities
The venue supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme. Wear your Sunflower lanyard and our team and stewards will know you may need a little extra time or help. Learn more.
A note on noise
This is a live railway location and a busy beer festival, so both passing trains and enthusiastic beer fans can be loud with little warning. If that is a concern, our stewards are happy to help you find a quieter spot.
Ask for Angela
If you feel unsafe, anxious or vulnerable for any reason, discreetly Ask for Angela at the bar. Our trained team will recognise it as a request for help and support you quietly, taking your lead. No need to explain yourself. Learn more.
Some of the venue’s heritage attractions, such as the signal boxes and parts of the APT, can only be reached by steps. Full step by step details are on the venue’s accessibility page. If you have a specific need or question, email us at beerfestivalorganiser@southcheshire.camra.org.uk and we will do our best to help.
Times & tickets
The festival runs from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September 2026 at Crewe Heritage Centre.
Advance tickets include:
£10 beer tokens, a festival guide, glass hire, and entry to Crewe Heritage Centre.
* Tickets purchased on the day do not include beer tokens, which must be purchased upon entry. Additional beer tokens are available to purchase at all sessions.
CAMRA members get the best price in advance, so if you are not yet a member you can join now and save.
Secure checkout is handled by CAMRA’s official Tckty ticketing.
Festival Code of Conduct
Beer, cider and perry are great, and the festival should be a fun, welcoming place for everyone to enjoy them.
We welcome all visitors and aim to provide an inclusive environment regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, disability or background. By attending, visitors, volunteers and traders agree to treat one another fairly and with respect. Comments or behaviour that discriminate against, harass or demean others will not be tolerated, and traders may not use discriminatory marketing.
- Treat everyone with respect. Harassment, discrimination or abusive behaviour towards visitors, volunteers or staff won’t be tolerated.
- Report concerns straight away. Speak to any festival steward, or use the Feedback and Complaints point on site. The sooner an issue is raised, the more we can do about it.
- Drink responsibly. Pace yourself; our team may refuse service to anyone who appears intoxicated.
- Challenge 25. If you are lucky enough to look under 25, please bring ID.
- Mind the trains. This is a working heritage railway site, so please follow all safety signage and steward instructions.
Anyone in breach may receive a warning or be removed from the festival; CAMRA members may also be subject to CAMRA’s disciplinary procedures. You can read the full CAMRA Festival Code of Conduct, or give feedback via CAMRA’s Feedback & Complaints form.
Lend a hand
Like every CAMRA festival, this one is run entirely by volunteers, and it is a brilliant way to enjoy the event from the other side of the bar. Whether you can spare a couple of hours or the whole weekend, we would love to hear from you.
To register your interest, complete our short volunteer form, or drop us an email and the team will be in touch with what’s involved:
Prefer to fill it in directly? Open the volunteer form in a new tab →