Beer Festivals Near Whitley Bay

Whitley Bay already has a strong drinking scene, from the micropubs on Park View to the seafront bars along the promenade. But if you want to try dozens of different beers in a single session -- surrounded by live music, street food, and fellow enthusiasts -- a proper beer festival is hard to beat. Fortunately, there are several good ones on the doorstep. Here is our guide.

Whitley Bay Beer Festival

The obvious starting point. The Whitley Bay Beer Festival is a three-day celebration of cask ales, ciders, gins, and fizz, hosted at Rockcliff Rugby Club on Lovaine Avenue. The festival has been running since 2014 and has grown into one of the most popular events on the local calendar, attracting over 1,000 visitors across the weekend.

There is live music every day, street food from local vendors, and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The setting at the rugby club gives it a proper community feel -- this is not a corporate event, it is a festival run by people who care about good beer. Tickets are usually available through the official website.

Best for: The Whitley Bay Beer Festival is held at Rockcliff Rugby Club, Lovaine Avenue, NE26 8RW. Check whitleybaybeerfestival.com for dates and tickets.

Ale by Rail, Stephenson Steam Railway

The Ale by Rail beer festival at the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Shields is one of the more unusual festivals in the region. Organised by members of the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, it features craft beer, cider, street food, and live music, all set inside a working heritage railway engine shed on Middle Engine Lane.

The atmosphere is something you will not find at a standard beer festival -- pints pulled alongside vintage steam locomotives, with the smell of hops mixing with engine oil. North Shields is only about 10 minutes from Whitley Bay by car or a short Metro ride.

Best for: The Stephenson Steam Railway is at Middle Engine Lane, North Shields, NE29 8DX. Easily reached by Metro to Percy Main station.

Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival

The Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival is the region's flagship CAMRA event, typically held in April at Northumbria Students' Union on Sandyford Road. The 2026 edition ran from 15 to 18 April, with over 100 beers and 40-plus ciders from breweries across the UK.

This is a classic CAMRA festival -- half-pint glasses, token-based purchasing, and knowledgeable volunteers who can talk you through every beer on the list. If you missed it this year, it runs annually and is well worth the trip into Newcastle. The Metro makes it straightforward from Whitley Bay, with trains running to Haymarket or Monument in around 25 minutes.

Best for: The Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival is organised by Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA and returns each spring.

Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge

Further afield but worth the journey, the Tynedale Beer Festival is one of the North East's longest-running community festivals. The 2026 edition runs from Thursday 18 June to Saturday 20 June at Tynedale Rugby Club in Corbridge.

Thursday evening opens at 6pm, Friday from 4pm, and Saturday is an all-day session from midday. The festival features real ales, ciders, gins, food vendors, and live music across the weekend. The best part: Corbridge railway station is right next to the rugby ground, so you can take the train from Newcastle Central and walk straight in. Tickets are available at tynedalebeerfestival.org.uk.

Staying Up to Date

Beer festivals come and go, and dates can shift from year to year. Two good resources for keeping track are the Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA events calendar and Beer Fest Buddy's North England listings. Both are updated regularly and cover festivals large and small across the region.