One of the longest-running beer trails in the UK is currently underway with more than 100 pubs across Greater Manchester taking part.
Taking place over the course of a month this year, the Mild Magic Ale Trail was first held back in 1994 under the name of the Stockport Mild Challenge. Its inaugural event, originally held to highlight the town’s reputation as a stronghold of traditional cask mild, saw 55 pubs participate – 24 of which are no longer open today, and a further three no longer selling cask beer.
The event has been held every year since then, apart from during the pandemic, and has become bigger and bigger. Last year’s festival featured 88 different milds available to taste, with the 2026 trail consisting of a whopping 102 pubs taking part. However, people are not expected to visit them all in one sitting.
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This year, ‘Mild Magicians’ have until Sunday, May 17 to try and tick off their list of venues visited. Each pub on the route have been chosen because they will stock at least one cask mild ale during the event, and participants can win prizes based on how many pubs they pop into.
The criteria is that those who take part will need to drink at least half a pint of cask mild ale in at least one pub in each of the twelve different areas. But it’s more about savouring each drink and taking in each pub’s atmosphere rather than a rush around. Those who visit 24, 48 or the whole shebang of 102 pubs by the last day will be able to upgrade on the prizes they can win.
The Mild Magic Ale Trail is back this year with 102 pubs and clubs to explore – and a range of new brews to try(Image: CAMRA/Darren Berry)
Organised by the Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA branch, everyone who successfully takes part will be included into a draw for a tour of Bollington Brewery in Macclesfield in September. One winner will also be able to organise a trip around the RedWillow brewery in Macclesfield for themselves and five friends.
Sponsored by Hydes Brewery, venues taking part this year will include The Lamb Hotel in Eccles, the Marble Arch in Manchester, the Barking Dog in Urmston, the Cocked Hat in Stockport, Cheadles’ James Watt, Didsbury’s The Railway, and Ashton-under-Lyne’s Ash Tree. Burnage’s Reasons To Be Cheerful, the Smithy Fold in Glossop, and Rusholme’s Ford Madox Brown are also included on the list.
This year’s trail features nine new pubs added to the list, and also includes three clubs in the form of the Legion in Poynton, The Ladybarn Club in Ladybarn, and the Carlton Club in Whalley Range.
The Lamb Hotel in Eccles is one of the 102 pubs taking part in the Mild Magic Ale Trail this year(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A few breweries have also conjured up something special for the 2026 event. Joseph Holt’s Cheetham Hill brewery have created a new strong 5.3% mild, called Mild and Mighty, whilst Runaway Brewery in Stockport have launched a special dark mild called Man-Chesters Mild alongside beer writer Matthew Curtis.
In addition, Manchester brewery Blackjack, have collaborated with Newbarns Brewery of Edinburgh on a special mild, whilst fellow Mancunian breweries Steelfish and Strawflower have teamed up with Buxton’s Silent Brewery for a new mild. Torrside, in New Mills, have also created a special mild for the event.
Speaking about the event, Organiser Glenn Males said: “I am very grateful to our sponsors and all the breweries, pubs and clubs who have come together to help us highlight this heritage beer style. From light-coloured low-strength milds to stronger dark ruby-coloured ones, there will be something to tickle everyone’s taste-buds.
During the trail, pubs like The Railway in Didsbury, will celebrate mild ales with a range of classics and special choices from local brewers(Image: Jason Roberts /Manchester Evening News)
“This year, many local breweries are producing special brews for the event, so now‘s the chance to try something new, as well as visit a venue you may have never visited before. You could also join up with fellow ale-trailers on organised rambles around Macclesfield on Friday 1st May.
“A record 260 people enjoyed the trail experience last year and generated an estimated 5.500 pub visits. Let’s try and beat that number this year: as well as having a great time, you will be supporting local breweries and pubs in what are very difficult times for the industry”.
Full details of the trail, including rules, venues and a downloadable card for stickers can be found here.