19th Bexley Beer Festival - 2026
The 2026 Bexley Beer Festival returned to Dartfordians Community Sports Club for three
lively days of cask ale, cider and community spirit. The event was well attended, with
1,709 people visiting over the course of the festival, including both CAMRA members
and the wider public. A total of 20 new CAMRA memberships were also taken out during
the festival.
This year’s festival served as a celebration of the life and contribution of Peter Trout,
a long-standing CAMRA stalwart and one of the founding figures of the Bexley Beer Festival.
Peter sadly passed away in October 2025. He co-organised the first Bexley Beer Festival
and remained co-organiser at every subsequent festival until his passing. Peter was widely
respected for his deep knowledge of real ale and his calm, practical approach to organising
the festival, and played a central role in shaping its development over the years. He was
greatly missed this year by volunteers, regular attendees and all who knew him. This year’s
festival logo was dedicated to Peter, and thanks also go to Chris Woodhams, the designer
behind the artwork, which featured Peter Trout in his infamous green jumper. A memorial
bench in his honour was also installed at the festival site, taking pride of place
overlooking the cricket pitch. In recognition of Peter’s memory, £900 was also raised for
Cancer Research during the festival.
There were 106 cask ales, 19 ciders and 3 perries available. The beer list offered a wide
variety of styles, with strong interest in both traditional and modern cask ales. By the
end of the festival, the majority of beers had sold out.
The first beer to go was Hammerton Crunch, repeating its popularity from the previous
year. This was followed closely by Bexley Brewery Coconut Porter, with Titanic
Cherry Porter the third beer to sell out.
Beer of the Festival, as voted for by festival-goers, was Bexley Brewery Mocha Stout,
followed by Bexley Brewery Coconut Porter in second place and Hammerton Crunch
in third. Cider of the Festival was Farmer Jim Farmyard Fruits, with Turners Apple Pie
second and Turners Dry third.
Thanks are extended to all breweries and businesses who supported the festival through sponsorship
and programme advertising. Special thanks go to Bexley Brewery, Iron Pier and Kent Brewery for
glass sponsorship; Five Points, Tonbridge, Lakedown, Goacher’s and The Park Tavern, Eltham for
programme advertising; The Long Haul for strike card sponsorship; and Wetherspoon’s for t-shirt
sponsorship.
Special thanks also go to Dartfordians Community Sports Club for the use of the venue, and to
Andy Wheeler, Festival Organiser, for overseeing another successful event.
The Bexley Beer Festival remains, above all, a celebration of community — built by volunteers,
supported by brewers and pubs, and enjoyed by drinkers alike.
Mark Charge, Bexley Beer Festival Bar Manager
