Meet the Brewer on Buxton's new ale trail

REAL ale fans will be raising a glass in Buxton this weekend when the spa town launches its own Buxton Ale Trail.

The trail takes in a grand total of 16 pubs and bars around Buxton town centre and, to celebrate, several will be running special offers and tasting sessions on both Saturday and Sunday October 13 and 14.

The launch, to be followed by a Meet the Brewer event  on October 21, will be a highlight of the fourth Buxton Beer Festival being staged at Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens as part of the Great Peak District Fair run by High Peak Borough Council.

Sample beers from Buxton Brewery, Wincle Brewery in Cheshire and Timothy Taylor in Yorkshire as well as organic beers from Manchester’s Marble Brewery will be offer at a promotional tasting at Portland Wines in Chapel Street on the Saturday while Wetherspoons, in Fairfield Road, will offer up to 10 ales throughout the weekend.

The Old Hall Hotel, in the Square, will be the setting for an evening of real ale appreciation led by Joe Ince from Buxton Brewery who will tell the story of brewing in the spa town on Sunday October 21.

There will be plenty on offer for non drinkers too as this year’s festival will also feature an autumn showcase in the Pavilion Arts Centre by 25 top-notch artists, designers and craftspeople from the Peak District Artisans.

In all, the fair will boast more than 100 stallholders and exhibitors selling products and produce crafted, handmade or hand-reared in the Peak District. The Octagon Hall will be packed to the rafters with stalls selling everything from food, fine art and furniture to ceramics, carvings and crafts.

The Promenade will host food and drink stalls plus live music and children’s attractions while the family-friendly Pavilion Café and mezzanine Art Café will be serving up freshly-sourced produce.

Godfrey Claff, executive councillor for regeneration, said: “The Great Peak District Fair and Buxton Beer Festival have become major events, attracting thousands of people from far and wide – and providing a major boost for our retail economy.

“I’ve no doubt that the addition of the Peak District Artisans will make the fair even more attractive, and I’m anticipating another record-breaking attendance.

“We hope that, by launching our own Real Ale Trail in Buxton, we will raise the profile of our local producers and boost trade in our town centre all year round. All 16 pubs and bars along the trial have something different to offer and, while some are traditional pubs which are rich in heritage, others are modern quirky establishments. Many offer the opportunity to dine but, most importantly, they are all packed with character.”

For more information on the fair, call (01298) 23114 or visit Pavilion Gardens website.