• Autumn Ale by Rail Trail

    As our three ‘local’ CAMRA beer festivals have been cancelled this year – Glasgow, Paisley and Ayrshire (Troon) – the Ayrshire & Wigtownshire, Renfrewshire and Glasgow & West of Scotland CAMRA branches have agreed to promote a joint Autumn Ale by Rail Trail over the weekend of 22-24 October 2021.

    The plan is to visit 3 pubs close to each station (with a 4th “try also” pub*) for a drink and then move on to the next town. Each of the pubs will only have their normal range of ales available, although they will have been made aware of the event and been asked to have extra beer available in their cellar if required. Download the poster here.

    Also, a reminder that there may be limited trains on Sunday due to Scotrail industrial action. As always though, please check tiemtables before travelling.

    The suggested pubs to visit on the Trail are as follows:  

    GLASGOW
    The Pot Still, Hope Street
    Sir John Moore, Argyle Street
    The Laurieston, Bridge Street
    *Drum & Monkey, St Vincent Street

    PAISLEY
    The Last Post, County Square
    Bull Inn, New Street
    Wee Howff, High Street
    *Northern Way, Causeyside Street

    TROON
    McKay’s, Portland Street
    Number Forty Seven, Templehill
    Harbour Bar, Templehill
    *South Beach Hotel, South Beach (ale not always available)

    On Saturday 23 October, the Ayrshire & Wigtownshire Branch will hold a social trip, starting at the Pot Still in Glasgow at 12 noon, and then jumping on the train via Paisley and finishing back down in Troon.

    As a guide, an adult ScotRail Off-Peak Return ticket between Troon and Glasgow costs £9.90. Additional fares may be needed outwith stations on that route.

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  • Support your local pub(s)

    As previously intimated, the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival which is usually held in Troon in October has been cancelled for this year, due to ongoing uncertainties and restrictions in numbers making it unviable.

    Instead, we are encouraging everyone to go out at some point over what would have been the festival weekend and support your local pub, whether that be in Troon, elsewhere in Ayrshire, or indeed further afield. You can find your nearest real ale pub by either visiting the listings at awcamra.org.uk/branch-matters/real-ale-outlets/ or by visiting whatpub.com. 

    Our festival normally has around 2,500 attendees – that’s a lot of beer which pubs would be delighted to sell to you! They need all the support they can get at present.

    On Saturday 9 October there will be a social crawl in Troon starting in McKay’s, Troon at 1pm that is open to all members of all CAMRA branches in Scotland.

  • 2021 Festival has been cancelled

    The Festival Committee met on 7th June, and after discussion, agreed by a majority that, regretfully, this year’s Ayrshire Real Ale Festival due to be held in October 2021 will be cancelled.
     
    There are simply still too many uncertainties around to make the festival viable with a limited capacity in Troon Concert Hall. All being well, we’ll be back in October 2022 and will finally be able to celebrate our 21st Birthday – and we hope you’ll join us then.
     
    In the meantime, watch out for news over the summer on potential smaller festival-type events in some local pubs or clubs.

  • Planning Meeting – 2021 Festival

    There will be a planning meeting on Monday 25th January at 8pm via Zoom, to discuss options and suggestions for the beer festival. The link will be published nearer the time.

    Obviously, things are still very uncertain and unknown as to how things will pan out over the next few months, but we need to be ready to put plans into action should a festival be possible. We’re therefore looking for any suggestions as to how we could adapt the festival to make it possible to take place.

    One of our committee members, Ian Middleditch, wrote a short article for the current edition of Full Pints with some of his thoughts – do you agree or disagree with any of them, or have you some other ideas? Join us on 25th January and share your thoughts/experiences. You can read the article here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/ba526585-edbd-4afc-b8d3-46160f7a088e

     

  • Have a joyful CAMRA Christmas

    Why not consider giving someone a CAMRA gift membership this Christmas? Visit join.camra.org.uk for more info.  Some of the festival videos can be found by clicking the menu tab above, or the full virtual festival can be watched by clicking the post below.

  • THE BIG EVENT – 2020 Virtual Ayrshire Real Ale Festival

    Click below to view our broadcast, specially prepared for the 2020 Virtual Ayrshire Real Ale Festival.

    It includes two virtual brewery tours and tastings from Islay Ales and Five Kingdoms Brewery, along with photos from past festivals, and music provided by Reely Jiggered, The Best Bad Influence, Duffy’s Gypsy Band, Delta Smoak and Big Slinky, along with Irvine & District Pipe Band and Caledonian Pipe Band.

    If you are not a CAMRA member, then please consider becoming a member. Full details at join.camra.org.uk

  • Virtual Ayrshire Real Ale Festival 2020 – Trailer

    We’ll be broadcasting a special video on FRIDAY 2nd OCTOBER at 7pm, featuring two virtual brewery tours and tastings from Islay Ales and Five Kingdoms Brewery, along with photos and music from the festival archives. Come along and join us with a virtual beer.

  • Festival Beer Quiz – Thurs 1st Oct at 8pm

    On Thursday 1st October at 8pm we’ll be having a special online beer quiz (via Zoom) which has been sponsored by Five Kingdoms Brewery. The winner will receive a fantastic prize courtesy of the brewery.

    Joining details for the quiz are as follows:

    Topic: CAMRA Beer Festival Quiz
    Time: Oct 1, 2020 08:00 PM London
    Join Zoom Meeting
    Meeting ID: 770 0650 8141
    Passcode: QUIZ