The Grainstore Brewery and Tap will be hosting its annual Oktoberfest celebrations this weekend.

Oktoberfest is the world's largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival. It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, running from mid- or late-September to around the first Sunday in October, with more than six million international and national visitors attending the event. 

Ad while Rutland's event certainly won't see that many visitors, The Grainstore is always a popular watering hole when themed events and festivals such as these take place, and promises to be a lively spot as celebrations begin this evening.

The Grainstore Brewery was formed through the collaboration of two friends: Tony Davis, formally Head Brewer and Production Director of Ruddles Brewery, and Mike Davies, Managing Director of Davro Fabrications.

For several years having driven daily past the derelict Victorian railway building on his way to work, the seed was planted in Tony's mind that it would make an ideal for a small brewery and Tap room. 

The old building had originally been used for storage of grain from the surrounding farms and thence its onward dispatch by rail, but after a chequered history it had been boarded up and abandoned for about ten years. The opportunity arose when Tony left Ruddles after a series of take-overs and Mike had returned from an engineering foray into France, for the dream to come to fruition.

Having received the keys in January 1995, renovation began. 

The Grainstore is a popular bar and brewery in Oakham. Image credit: The Grainstore.

The old three storey building offered the potential of becoming and ideal traditional tower brew house with raw materials being taken to the top and finished beer emerging from the bottom, all through the natural gift of gravity. 

Following renovation of the building, sourcing, modification and positioning of the brewing plant within the top two floors, the brewery tap on the ground floor was furnished and opened its doors for business in September 1995. The 15 barrel brew house (50 x 11 gallon casks), turned out its first brew of "Cooking" two months later.

Now passed to Tony's son William and his business partner Peter Atkinson to echo the past, the brewery continues to build on its strengths brewing traditional English Ales and supplying hundreds of free trade outlets as well as wholesalers and beer festivals nationwide.

Enjoy a taste of Bavaria in Rutland this weekend. Image credit: Nub News.

This weekend, the venue will be hosting their annual Oktoberfest celebrations.

From 29 September until 1 October 2023 patrons can expect a full on weekend of live music, specially selected Oktoberfest beers, bratwurst, pretzels, Dirndls and Lederhosen - fancy dress is encouraged!

There is no need to book and entry is free.

Find the venue at:

Station Approach

Oakham

Rutland