Two days. Forty beers. Ten ciders. A brilliant event that fundraises for Warwick.

Every summer, thousands of drinkers descend on Warwick Racecourse for one of the town’s favourite dates in the calendar: The Warwick Court Leet’s Summer Beer, Cider & Music Festival. It’s a weekend of local ales, crisp ciders, a Prosecco and wine bar, live music from our best local bands, and street food to soak it all up. And the best part? Every pint poured helps fund good causes right here in Warwick.

From a six-week scramble to a summer institution

Our festival’s story starts in 2015, when the previous organisers pulled out at the eleventh hour. With just six weeks on the clock, Warwick Court Leet stepped in, pulled together a committee, lined up beer and cider suppliers, built a website, rallied sponsors and somehow pulled off a triumph!

Attendance doubled overnight, and the festival raised more than £15,000, a result so unexpected that the Court Leet set up a dedicated Grants Committee on the spot to start giving the money straight back to the community in CV34.

From there, the festival simply grew. More drinks, bigger crowds, and a move to the West End Centre in 2018. In 2019, it found a new home in the town centre’s Pageant Gardens for another sell-out turnout.

Covid put the brakes on in 2020 and 2021, but the festival bounced back stronger than ever and its success even sparked a sister event, The Lord Leycester Beer Festival, raising much-needed funds for the historic building which is home to retired service men and women.

Since the Court Leet took ownership of Warwick’s beer festivals, we’ve raised more than £77,000 to fund charities, community groups and individuals across the CV34 area, from Warwick Foodbank and Myton Hospice to local Scout groups and grassroots sports clubs.

The festival today

Warwick Racecourse has become the summer festival’s spiritual home, providing a stunning backdrop for two days of drinks, music and community spirit. Drinkers are always spoiled for choice, with 40 beers and 10 ciders from local and regional brewers, plus a dedicated Prosecco and wine bar for something a little different.

And it’s not just about what’s in the glass. A full line-up of local live music runs across both days, with the festival regularly featuring firm favourites from the Warwickshire scene alongside food traders serving up street food to match.

Richard Eddy, Herald of Warwick Court Leet, sums up why the festival means so much to the town:

“Our summer Beer, Cider and Music Festival combines great local drinks, live music, and a fantastic community atmosphere, while also raising money for good causes across our town. Whether you’re coming along to enjoy the beers, discover local music or simply spend time with friends and family, you’ll also be helping us invest directly back into our community.”

A festival with a purpose

Here’s what makes this festival different: every single ticket and every drink sold goes towards the Warwick Court Leet Grant Fund. There are no middleman and no corporate profit; the money raised is reinvested directly into Warwick, supporting charities, community groups and individuals who need a helping hand across the CV34 postcode.

The Lord Leycester Beer Festival

Not content with one festival a year, Warwick Court Leet also runs The Lord Leycester Beer Festival, held every February in the historic Great Hall of The Lord Leycester Hospital. It’s become one of Warwick’s most-loved winter fundraising events, with beer, cider and community spirit filling one of the town’s most atmospheric venues.

This year’s event raised an incredible £6,843, presented as a cheque by the Bailiff of Warwick Court Leet, Rob Cameron, to the Master of The Lord Leycester, Darren Bowyer. The funds go directly towards preserving The Lord Leycester and supporting the retired servicemen and women who call it home, it’s a wonderful example of Warwick looking after its own.

Raising a glass for Warwick

From a six-week rescue mission in 2015 to a two-festival, £77,000-and-counting fundraising machine, Warwick Court Leet’s beer festivals have become a genuine good-news story for the town. It’s proof that a great pint, great music and great company can add up to something that really matters.

So, whether you’re marking your calendar for the Summer Beer, Cider & Music Festival at Warwick Racecourse, or planning ahead for The Lord Leycester Beer Festival next February, know that every sip supports Warwick.

Find out more and book tickets at WarwickBeerFestival.com

All proceeds from the Warwick Beer, Cider & Music Festival are donated to the Warwick Court Leet Grant Fund. Find out more about the grants awarded to Warwick charities, community groups and individuals at warwick-courtleet.co.uk/grants.