We're once again involving our Oakham pubs in our festival by publicising them via the Oakham 'Ale Trail' which is kindly sponsored this year by best-selling crime thriller author Adam Croft who also penned the Rutland Crime Series.

We're hoping the pubs can lay on some complementary and perhaps contrasting ales to those we'll have at the festival. We’ll post further info here on the beers available as we have it.

Enjoy the following descriptions of the pubs on the trail kindly produced by branch member Manuela Croft :

From Monday 17th June to Sunday 23rd we encourage visitors to the festival to also visit and support our great town pubs, and, with the festival finishing at 8pm on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd, and at 6pm on Sunday 23rd, there’s plenty of time to sample some of the finest ales Oakham pubs have to offer afterwards too.

We hope those not familiar with Oakham will find the accompanying map useful. Let us take you on a (roughly) circular walk to visit the participating pubs starting from the County Museum where our festival is held :-

Turn left as you exit into the High Street and continue round, past Mill Street, then cross the road into Market Place where you'll see The George . This hotel has been extensively renovated having been formerly known as the Whipper-In. Alongside a very cosy lounge is a separate bar area, definitely worth a look for the decor alone.

From here, the nearest pub serving a great selection of regular and changing ales is just a few steps away. Tucked in the top right-hand corner of Market Place is The Lord Nelson a real Tardis of a place. A traditional looking pub with plenty of character steeped in history with uneven floors and steep stairs leading to further eating and drinking areas. Food is served throughout opening times and children and dogs are welcome. They have 5 hand pumps including their regular session ale. On production of your CAMRA card the Nelson offers 15% off the price of your pint.

As you leave the Nelson head towards the historic Buttercross and Market Square. Ahead you'll find a path leading alongside All Saints church. At the end simply cross the road into Northgate and you'll see The Wheatsheaf a very attractive looking traditional British pub. Plenty of 'olde worlde' character, a good range of Everard's beers and a choice of around traditional ciders. The pub has a strong local following but is welcoming to all and has excellent quality pub food. Seek out the beautifully well-kept garden a joy to relax in with your drink. The Wheatsheaf was a worthy winner of our 2023 Autumn Pub of the Season and a runner-up for our Pub of the Year.

If you can tear yourself away from the Wheatsheaf turn left and continue to the end of Northgate. Turn right at the end towards the railway station which was opened in 1848 and you'll see the signal box that was the prototype for the Airfix kit signal box. Right next door to the station isThe Grainstore Brewery Tap which has been cleverly converted from a derelict Victorian railway building that was originally used for storing grain from surrounding farms before onward dispatch by rail. The building retains some original features. Here you can sample from 10 hand pumps. The Grainstore is a regular local CAMRA branch award winner was a contender for our Spring and Summer Pub of the Season last year and has been in the Good Beer Guide for twenty one consecutive years. You can use your CAMRA 50p discount vouchers here.

From here we can detour slightly from our 'circular' tour by heading down Station Road and visiting The Railway a newly renovated pub with the addition of a live music & comedy events bar alongside who are putting an ale on especially for the Ale Trail. Then double back past Northgate and head down the Melton Road where you'll pass the thatched cottage of Rutland's smallest man Jeffrey Hudson. On the right you'll come to Jinky's named after the landlord's football hero Jimmy 'Jinky' Johnstone this pub has been run by the same family for 17 years. All visitors to this quirky and quite different little pub with it's unique decor are assured of a warm welcome. CAMRA members are offered a generous 20% off their pint with their CAMRA card.

Keep heading down Melton Road until you come to the Captain Noel Newton a Wetherspoons pub. For more than 60 years, these premises were the Royal British Legion, having been acquired in the late 1940s from Captain Noel Newton. Newton served in the army during World War I with the rank of captain, then major – and was awarded the Military Cross. He was later a member of Rutland County Council. The premises are built onto a surviving part of The Limes – a grand house named after the tall trees in its walled garden.This pub was a contender for Spring, Summer and Winter Pub of the Season last year. The 50p CAMRA discount vouchers are also accepted here.

From here we'll cross back over the High Street and we can take another quick detour down the pedestrianised Gaol Street to Ovation a modern friendly bar serving quality wines and cocktails. Whilst no cask ale is available here there is a selection of craft and key keg beers.

Back to the High Street and continue down until you get to a small pedestrianised shopping area on your right called Crown Walk. At the end, on the right, you'll find The Crown Tavern a smart, stylish, family friendly sports bar serving ale on one pump.

And whilst Oakham is blessed with a good choice or real ale pubs there are total of 53 within Rutland which also deserve a visit. Give yourself a challenge for the following year - one per week !