Beer Festivals Near Cramlington

Cramlington does not have a beer festival of its own, but it is well placed for several. Most of the festivals nearby are run by rugby clubs to raise money for their junior and community sides, and the biggest of all is CAMRA's spring festival in Newcastle. This guide lists the regular ones, in calendar order, with dates where they have been announced.

We have only given dates that organisers have published. Where next year's dates are not out yet, we say so; check the organiser's website before you plan a trip.

Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival (April)

The Tyneside and Northumberland branch of CAMRA, which covers Cramlington, runs the Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival each spring. It is the largest real ale festival in the area, with a long list of cask beers, ciders and perries.

The 2027 festival is from Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 April 2027 at Northumbria Students' Union in Newcastle city centre. Published session times are 6pm to 11pm on the Wednesday, noon to 11pm on Thursday and Friday, and noon to 7pm on Saturday. Ticket prices had not been announced when we checked in November 2026.

Best for:

The quickest way to the Newcastle festival is the train from Cramlington station to Newcastle Central, then a walk or Metro ride to Haymarket. Buses X8, X9, X10 and X11 also run into the city.

Morpeth Beer Festival (spring)

Morpeth Rugby Football Club hosts the Morpeth Beer Festival at Grange House Field on Mitford Road. It is a spring event: the twelfth festival ran on 1 and 2 May 2026. Dates for 2027 had not been announced when we checked, so keep an eye on the club's website and social media from early in the year.

Morpeth is the next stop north of Cramlington on the train, and the ground is a short walk west of the town centre.

Ponteland Beer Festival (June)

Ponteland Rugby Club runs the Ponteland Beer Festival on its field by the leisure centre on Callerton Lane. It celebrated its tenth year in 2024 and is one of the better-known club festivals in Northumberland.

The 2027 festival is on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 June 2027. The festival website takes sign-ups for early-bird ticket news. Ponteland is around 20 minutes' drive from Cramlington.

Tynedale Beer Festival (June)

The Tynedale Beer Festival is held at Tynedale Park in Corbridge, home of Tynedale RFC. It runs over three days, and camping is available for those who want to make a weekend of it.

The 2027 festival is from Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 June 2027. Published sessions are 6pm to 11pm on Thursday, 4pm to 11pm on Friday and noon to 11pm on Saturday. Details and tickets are on the festival website. Tynedale Park is close to Corbridge station, which is on the Tyne Valley line from Newcastle.

Ale by Rail (August)

Ale by Rail is a summer beer festival at Stephenson Steam Railway on Middle Engine Lane in North Shields, run by the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association. The 2026 edition was on Saturday 15 August. No date for 2027 had been published when we checked. The museum is about 20 minutes' drive from Cramlington.

Whitley Bay Beer Festival (late summer)

Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC hosts the Whitley Bay Beer Festival at its Hillheads ground off Lovaine Avenue. It has run for more than a decade, and proceeds go towards rugby development at the club. The 2026 festival was from 28 to 30 August; 2027 dates had not been announced when we checked.

Festival dates at a glance

Tips for festival-goers

• Book early: the popular sessions, especially Friday evenings and Saturdays, can sell out in advance.
• Bring cash and a card: some festivals use tokens or a mix of payment methods, so check beforehand.
• Plan your way home: most of these festivals are near a station or bus route. Leave the car at home.
• Start small: most festivals serve thirds and halves, which is the best way to try a range of beers.

Real ale in Cramlington the rest of the year

Between festivals, the best place in town for cask ale is the Plough in the old village, which CAMRA lists with up to five changing beers, mostly from local microbreweries. Our guide to the best pubs in Cramlington covers the rest, and for summer drinking outdoors see our beer gardens guide. For more ideas for a day trip, try days out from Cramlington.

Know of a beer festival near Cramlington we've missed, or spotted new dates? Get in touch and we'll update the guide.