Wetherspoon Trafford beer festival to offer £2.99 pints 2026

Key Points

• Autumn beer festival of Wetherspoon will take place in Trafford between Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October 2026.
• The Trafford pubs taking part in the festival are The Unicorn in Altrincham and The J P Joule in Sale.
• Both the Trafford pubs’ cask ales will cost £2.99 per pint.
• Up to 30 real ales will be offered in the festival, which include five international beers coming from China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA.
• The representation of Singapore and Ukraine in a Wetherspoon beer festival is being seen for the first time.
• Most of the beers will have been brewed specially for the festival.
• Three third-of-a-pint samples can be ordered for the price of one whole pint.
• Five vegetarian-friendly choices will be there in the list.
• Notes on each beer can be read in a festival magazine and online on the Wetherspoon app and website.
• Costs of beers in Wetherspoon’s national festival may differ according to the pub. However, the cost in Trafford pubs is £2.99 per pint.

Trafford ( Manchester Mirror) October 03, 2026 – Wetherspoon will bring a 12-day cask ale festival to two of its Trafford pubs from 7 October to 18 October 2026, with every festival ale priced at £2.99 a pint. The event will run at The Unicorn in Altrincham and The J P Joule in Sale as part of the pub company’s national autumn beer festival.

Which Wetherspoon pubs in Trafford are taking part?

The Unicorn in Altrincham and The J P Joule in Sale are the two Trafford Wetherspoon venues named for the festival. The event forms part of Wetherspoon’s wider 12-day beer festival, which is taking place across participating pubs in the UK.

As reported by the Messenger Newspapers, the festival will allow the Trafford pubs to showcase beers that have not previously been available to their customers.

Kev Muldoon, manager of The J P Joule, said: “The festival is a great celebration of cask ale.”

He added: “It will allow us to showcase a selection of superb beers, featuring many not previously available to our customers in the pub, including those from brewers as far afield as China and Ukraine, as well as those closer to home, over a 12 day period.”

Mr Muldoon also said: “All of the beers will be available at great value-for-money prices.”

How much will pints cost at Trafford Wetherspoon pubs?

All festival ales at The Unicorn and The J P Joule will be priced at £2.99 per pint, according to the Messenger Newspapers.

Nationally, Wetherspoon has said festival beer prices vary between pubs and range from £2.40 to £2.99 per pint. The £2.99 figure applies to the Trafford venues covered in the local report.

Customers will also be able to sample three third-of-a-pint tasters for the price of a single pint.

What beers will be available during the festival?

Wetherspoon’s autumn festival line-up includes up to 30 real ales, with five international selections. The company says all festival beers are new to Wetherspoon.

The international beers named in the Trafford report are:

• Urbrew Oolong ESB, from China.
• Mikkeller English Dream Pilsner, from Denmark.
• Lion Mango IPA, from Singapore.
• Varvar Session Golden Ale, from Ukraine.
• UPP Liquids Pinball Wizard, from the USA.

Singapore and Ukraine will be represented at a Wetherspoon beer festival for the first time.

The reported UK line-up also includes Cairngorm Autumn Nuts, Otter Reggae, Loch Lomond Flying South, Oakham Dressed to Impress and Exmoor Red.

Most of the beers have been brewed for the first time and exclusively for the festival.

Are there vegan-friendly and unusual beer options?

Yes. Five vegan-friendly beers will be available during the festival.

The flavours range from traditional cask ale styles to beers brewed with coconut, coriander, mango and tea.

Wetherspoon’s own festival announcement describes the event as featuring 30 real ales, including the five overseas beers, and confirms that three third-of-a-pint tasters will be available for the price of a pint.

How can customers find tasting notes?

Tasting notes for the beers will be available in the festival magazine. Customers can obtain a printed copy at the participating pubs or access a digital version through the Wetherspoon app and website.

The national Wetherspoon announcement says festival beers can be ordered at the bar or through the Wetherspoon app.

What has Wetherspoon said about the national festival?

As reported by The Sun, Wetherspoon marketing manager Jen Swindells said: “The festival is a great celebration of cask beer.”

She said:

“Over a 12-day period, the pubs can showcase a selection of superb value-for-money beers, including those from brewers as far afield as Denmark and Singapore, as well as those closer to home.”

Ms Swindells added:

“The festival gives customers the chance to enjoy beers which have not previously been available in the pubs, as well as those brewed especially for the festival – and there are plenty of new beers to try.”

The national festival runs from Wednesday 7 October to Sunday 18 October, inclusive.

Background of the development

Wetherspoon’s autumn beer festival is an annual-style promotional event built around cask ale, with the 2026 edition offering 30 real ales, including five from overseas brewers. The company says every festival beer is new to Wetherspoon, while most have been brewed specifically for the festival.

The Trafford participation follows the company’s wider national rollout, with pubs in several parts of the UK taking part. National coverage has said up to 30 cask ales will be available, with prices from £2.40 to £2.99 depending on the pub.

Prediction: How could this affect Trafford beer drinkers?

For Trafford beer drinkers, the festival is likely to provide a low-cost opportunity to try a wider range of cask ales than is normally available at The Unicorn and The J P Joule. The fixed £2.99 pint price and the three-taster offer may encourage customers to sample several beers rather than choosing only one.

The presence of beers from China, Denmark, Singapore, Ukraine and the USA could also attract customers interested in trying new styles and flavours, particularly as Singapore and Ukraine are represented for the first time in a Wetherspoon beer festival.

For local pub-goers, the main practical effect is likely to be increased choice between 7 and 18 October, along with guidance through the festival magazine and app-based tasting notes. Customers who prefer vegan-friendly options will also have five beers from which to choose.