Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival Returns for Its 47th Year!

A celebration of real ale, cider, and great entertainment – 9th-12th April 2025

Beer and cider lovers, rejoice! The 47th Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival is back, bringing a fantastic selection of the UK's best real ale, cider, live music, and unique entertainment. Hosted at the Northumbria Students’ Union from 9th to 12th April 2025, this annual festival is a must-attend event for both connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike.

Tickets are on sale now and our first tickets this year were bought by a couple who travel from Germany annually to experience our uniquely curated selection of beers, followed closely by a gentleman making the pilgrimage from Texas! It’s a testament to how special this festival is.

The festival is a showcase of the talent of the local brewing industry, championing their skills. Brewing is a large sector within the North East Economy, and having the ability to promote their expertise to a diverse audience and get people sampling and trying drinks they may not have explored in the past really helps keep those traditional and creative industries alive.

A Festival of Exceptional Beer & Cider

With over 100 beers and 40 ciders on tap, festivalgoers will have the chance to sample an outstanding variety of brews, including exclusive festival specials and brand-new releases before they hit the market.

This year, local breweries from Tyneside and Northumberland have been challenged to craft a special festival brew, whether a stout, best bitter, or something entirely unique, creating an exciting and competitive twist to the event.

We have some exciting appearances from Breweries including Marble,Oakham, Left Handed Giant and an international collaboration between Allendale Brewery x Suncreek Brewing of Florida, alongside beloved microbreweries and established names from across the UK.

Entertainment, Games & Festival Atmosphere

Beyond the drinks, the festival offers a vibrant atmosphere with live music and traditional pub games, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Attendees can test their skills at Shut the Box, Table Skittles, and Ring the Pump, while enjoying a fantastic lineup of live performances.

Music lovers can look forward to an exciting mix of rock, indie, acoustic, and funk, with performances on both The Microbus Stage (Thursday & Friday) and the Main Stage (Saturday).

Thursday & Friday – The Microbus Stage at Reds Bar

Upstairs from the Main Hall | Keg Beers, Games & Live Music
The Microbus Stage will keep the festival buzzing with an eclectic mix of talented artists, including:

• Bradley Thompson – Returning to the festival with a dynamic, interactive set featuring classic rock, modern indie, and even 2000s dance hits.
• Undercover Duo – A festival debut for this talented acoustic duo, bringing timeless classics from the ‘60s to today, covering Oasis, Bowie, Foo Fighters, REM, and more.
• The Missing Cats Duo – Delivering acoustic covers from Queen, The Killers, A-ha, Bon Jovi, The Who, and more.
• Tom Taylor – Another festival debut, offering a setlist spanning Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creedence Clearwater Revival, George Ezra, Jake Bugg, and more.

Saturday 12th April – Main Stage

Main Hall | Closing the Festival in Style!

• Rich Gilroy – Former festival headliner Rich Gilroy returns with a funk-infused solo set, packed with energy and crowd-pleasing favourites.
• Blistered Molly – A high-energy, female-fronted rock band delivering electrifying performances of rock anthems from Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Festival

The festival is entirely run by a dedicated team of volunteers, who work tirelessly to organise, set up, and manage the event. From carefully conditioning hundreds of casks to constructing festival bars, the behind-the-scenes effort ensures every pint is poured to perfection.

We are always looking for new members to join us between our socialising, campaigning for pubs or operating the beer festival, those who join the Campaign for Real Ale at the festival will get 2 free pints!

Special Events & Festival Traditions

• Hat Day (Thursday, 11th April) – Attendees are encouraged to don their most creative headwear, with unique hats available for purchase from the St Oswald’s Hospice stall.
• Monkseaton Morris – Performing traditional Rapper (sword) dances to add a unique heritage touch to the festival atmosphere.
• Exclusive Fast-Track Packages – Skip the queues with a £21 package that includes festival admission, a commemorative glass, and four beer tokens.

Supporting Local Breweries & Communities

This year’s festival is proudly supported by Wylam Brewery, celebrating its 25th anniversary, alongside Hadrian Border, Hexhamshire Brewery, and Firebrick Brewery, who will be serving up their much-loved Stottie Beer.

Join the Celebration!

The Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival 2025 promises to be an unmissable event for real ale and cider lovers. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or just looking for a great day out, come along and raise a glass with us!