The Real Ale Train at Isle of Wight Steam Railway runs extended evening steam departures between Havenstreet and Smallbrook Junction alongside a programme of real ale from local and mainland brewers. The format is simple: a moving bar on a heritage railway, the countryside outside the window at dusk, and a selection of ales that change through the season as the programme moves between suppliers.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway events attract a specific kind of visitor who wants their leisure to have some roots in something genuinely historical rather than recreated. The Real Ale Train delivers on that: the locomotives are working steam engines, the ales are from brewers who are interested in the craft, and the evening combines both without either overwhelming the other. The event suits adults who find the combination of good beer and an unusual setting more interesting than a pub alone.
Booking recommended; check iwsteamrailway.co.uk for dates and evening departure times. More food and heritage events at the steam railway across the season.
