Beer Festivals Near Blyth

Blyth has a solid pub scene of its own, but sometimes you want something bigger -- a marquee full of hand-pulled cask ales, a programme of live music, and the chance to try dozens of beers in a single session. The good news is that the North East has a strong tradition of beer festivals, and several of the best are within easy reach of Blyth. Here is our guide to the ones worth knowing about.

Tynedale Beer Festival, Corbridge

The Tynedale Beer Festival is one of the longest-running and best-loved beer festivals in the North East. It takes place at Tynedale Rugby Club in Corbridge, and the 2026 edition runs from Thursday 18 June to Saturday 20 June. Thursday evening runs 6pm to 11pm, Friday opens at 4pm, and Saturday is an all-day session from midday to 11pm.

The festival features a wide selection of real ales, ciders, gins, and food from local vendors, plus live music across the weekend. The setting is lovely -- a proper rugby club ground in the Tyne Valley -- and the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. Corbridge station is right next to the ground, making it easy to get there and back without driving.

Best for: Tynedale Beer Festival runs 18-20 June 2026 at Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge. Tickets are available at tynedalebeerfestival.org.uk.

From Blyth, Corbridge is around 40 minutes by car via the A1. By public transport, take the bus to Newcastle and then the Northern rail line westbound to Corbridge station -- about 90 minutes door to door.

Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival

The Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival is organised by the Tyneside and Northumberland branch of CAMRA and typically takes place in April at Northumbria Students' Union on Sandyford Road. The 2026 festival ran from 15 to 18 April, featuring over 100 beers and 40-plus ciders from breweries across the UK.

This is a proper CAMRA festival -- tokens, half-pint glasses, and volunteers who genuinely know their stuff. If you missed the 2026 edition, it returns annually and is well worth planning for next year. Newcastle is straightforward from Blyth by bus, with Arriva services running regularly into the city centre.

Best for: The Newcastle Beer and Cider Festival is organised by Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA and runs annually in spring.

Whitley Bay Beer Festival

The Whitley Bay Beer Festival is a three-day event hosted at Rockcliff Rugby Club on Lovaine Avenue, Whitley Bay. The festival has run since 2014 and attracts over 1,000 visitors across the weekend, with a strong selection of cask ales, ciders, gins, and prosecco, plus live music and street food from local vendors.

Whitley Bay is only around 20 minutes from Blyth by car, making this one of the closest beer festivals to home. Check the official website for 2026 dates and tickets.

Ale by Rail, Stephenson Steam Railway

For something a bit different, the Ale by Rail beer festival is held at the Stephenson Steam Railway in North Shields. Organised by members of the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association, it combines craft beer and cider with street food and live music, all set against the backdrop of a historic railway engine shed on Middle Engine Lane.

It is a smaller, more intimate festival than some of the others on this list, but the setting is genuinely unique. North Shields is around 25 minutes from Blyth by car.

Best for: The Stephenson Steam Railway's Ale by Rail festival is held at Middle Engine Lane, North Shields, NE29 8DX.

Finding More Festivals

The Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA branch maintains an events calendar with upcoming beer festivals across the region. The Beer Fest Buddy website also lists festivals across the north of England, searchable by date and location. Both are worth bookmarking if you want to stay on top of what is coming up.