The Ale Trail is back for 2026. After a brief hiatus last year the Ale Trail returns. Simply visit any of the 22 pubs on the trail, buy a pint or half of real ale or real cider and collect a sticker. Collect 20 stickers from different pubs and bring your completed card to the 39th Colchester Real Ale and Cider Festival and we’ll give you an exclusive Ale Trail 2026 pin badge and a £20 beer card to spend at the festival. Simple!

The trail starts on 4th April 2026.

Participating Pubs in 2026:
Chapel Inn, Coggeshall
Woolpack, Coggeshall
Ale House, Colchester
Castle, Colchester
Fox and Fiddler, Colchester
Kings Arms, Colchester
Magnet, Colchester
Odd One Out, Colchester
Three Wise Monkeys, Colchester
Victoria Inn, Colchester
Bell Inn, Feering
Sun Inn, Feering
Courtyard Tap, Halstead
White Hart, Halstead
Hare & Hounds, Layer Breton
Peldon Rose, Peldon
Anchor, Rowhedge
Ye Olde Albion, Rowhedge
Live & Let Live, Stanway
White Hart, W. Mersea
Horse & Groom, Wivenhoe
Station, Wivenhoe