Tameside Beer Festival proves to be a big hit

The 2026 Tameside Beer Festival proved another big hit with the local community, with hundreds of people heading to Stalybridge over the course of two days.

The annual event, organised by Tameside Rotary, took place at Stalybridge Civic Hall on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, with the venue packed with visitors on both days.  And attendees enjoyed good beer, live entertainment, and plenty of food – all while raising money for local good causes.

For a small entrance fee, festival-goers were given access to a wide selection of cask beers, with more than 30 varieties available to sample. There was also something for those who preferred alternative tipples, with ciders, wines, and lagers available to purchase. 

Rather than paying directly for each drink, visitors could buy tokens, which were then exchanged at the bar – helping to keep things moving as the crowds gathered throughout the weekend. 

And there was much more on offer than just the drinks. 

A programme of live entertainment ran across both days, providing plenty of atmosphere inside the Civic Hall. Highlights included an opera singer, a brass band, and a group performing covers of classic rock favourites. 

Friday evening also featured a Laurel and Hardy tribute act, adding a touch of comedy to proceedings and giving festival-goers another reason to stay and enjoy the evening. 

Food was also a big part of the event, with visitors able to tuck into a selection of curries and pies. For those looking for something a little sweeter, there were also plenty of home-baked cakes on offer. The cakes came courtesy of the Tameside Reporter’s own Kirsty, who many readers will know from her Kitchen and Garden columns in the newspaper. 

The busy atmosphere continued throughout the weekend, with people turning out in their droves to support the event and, importantly, the causes it helps to fund. 

The Tameside Beer Festival is a fundraising event, with all money raised being donated to good causes. This year, local dementia charities and services were among the main beneficiaries, meaning that the money spent over the bar and on food and entertainment will go towards supporting people in the local community. 

Behind the scenes, a large team of volunteers worked hard to make sure everything ran smoothly. Despite the high numbers attending, queues at the bar were kept short, while volunteers helped people move efficiently in and out of the venue. 

The festival is now firmly established as one of the regular events on the Tameside calendar, with this year marking its 14th edition. 

With this year’s event attracting such a strong turnout, the Tameside community – and the charities and services that benefit from the money raised – will no doubt be hoping that the festival will once again return to Stalybridge in 2027.