Real Ale Festival

About

Join us for a celebration of real ale and steam!

We've brought together an extensive selection of real ales from the Isle of Wight and independent breweries throughout the UK. You'll have the opportunity to try local brews from Yates, Goddards and the Island Brewery alongside ales from Yorkshire, Somerset and more.

Our bar opens at 11am and closes at 7pm on Saturday and Sunday (5pm on Monday). Entry to the festival is FREE.

Steam trains are running throughout the weekend from 10.15am until 7pm. Book online to reserve your exclusive compartment on the train for you and your family - you'll even save money too by booking online. Why not travel to the festival by train, making use of our connection with Island Line at Smallbrook Junction, or the Island's bus network at Wootton.

Step back to a bygone era when steam power was the order of the day. Thrill to the sight and sound of powerful majestic steam engines and breathe in the evocative smells of a real steam railway. Soak-up the rhythm of quiet rural stations while enjoying the friendliness of traditionally uniformed staff.

Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and discover an idyllic view of the Island's unspoilt countryside ... or hop off at one of our stations and just watch the trains go by. Keep an eye out for a red squirrel or deer darting away from the train as you pass through ancient woodland.

Our Locomotives and Carriages have all been painstakingly restored to pristine condition and are the hallmark of our delightful railway. Our oldest locomotive was built in 1876 and carriages date back to 1864.

Explore our Train Story Discovery Centre, our fabulous indoor museum which brings the story of the Island's railway's to life. Discover our amazing collection that spans from the opening of the line from Ryde to Shanklin in 1864 to the Underground trains that ran on the line until January 2021.