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Kent cycling pub and cafe hosts beer & bike themed Oktoberfest

The Freewheel near Faversham opened in May this year

A pub in Kent that is aimed at cyclists is to hold its inaugural Oktoberfest this weekend, themed around beer (of course), food and last but not least bicycles.

The Freewheel Pub and Cycling Café in Graveney, near Faversham, was opened in May this year by Adrian Oliver, who is the founder of Kent-based cycle training company, CyclingAge.

- UK's "first cycling pub" opens in Kent but history shows longstanding links between bikes and beer

Its inaugural Freewheel Oktoberfest will get under way at 10am on Saturday 17 October and continues until 11pm on Sunday evening, with part of its focus on craft beers and ciders from across the county known as the Garden of England.

The weekend, which is free to attend and will feature family entertainment as well camping facilities and as locally-sourced food, also has a very strong bike theme, as Mr Oliver explained.

“There are a number of reasons why I set up Oktoberfest. In the United States Craft Beer & Craft Bicycles is becoming increasing popular and developing hand in hand.

“This gave me the inspiration to set up the Freewheel’s own Craft Beer & Craft Bicycle festival which offers people something rather unique.

“Firstly the opportunity to taste beers which are made locally and full of flavour and secondly to make cyclists aware that they don’t have to buy mass-produced bicycles, instead they can have something a little different that is bespoke.”

Bikes and components will be on show from businesses including frame builders Timmy Rowan of Rowan Frameworks, Caren Hartley of Hartley Cycles and Felix Fried of Shed 6, while there will also be accessories available to buy.

More information is available on the pub’s website and Facebook page and you can also download the event flyer below.

The Freewheel Cycling Pub and Café, Head Hill Road, Graveney, Nr Faversham, Kent ME13 9DE Tel: 01795 538143

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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Manchestercyclist | 9 years ago
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There are plenty of apples in Kent, in fact I'd argue that Kentish apples are then best there are. It's just nicer to eat them.

In the same way that I don't mind a bowl of cereal, but I'd rather make beer from them. Besides your can't make breakfast from hops.

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Chris James | 9 years ago
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There's the White Horse wheelers in Emley, West Yorkshire. Named after the pub, runs start from the pub and all socials held at the pub. I suppose it isn't news if you don't shoe horn the word 'craft' with beer, despite the White Horse offering 8 different beers and having been in the Good Beer Guide for years!

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Manchestercyclist | 9 years ago
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They may have been earlier in Yorkshire, but nothing beats Kentish Ale

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fukawitribe replied to Manchestercyclist | 9 years ago
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GREGJONES wrote:

They may have been earlier in Yorkshire, but nothing beats Kentish Ale

Whilst there's clearly a place in this world for people making tepid, flat pop from breakfast cereal ingredients, I think - as the South West and far East may confirm - that your apple is typically the essential element for a real drink..

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Batchy | 9 years ago
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And there is me thinking that the New Inn, Appletreewick,North Yorkshire was the first "cycling" pub in the UK. It used to specialise particularly in mountain bikers with B&B and workshop and spares etc. at least 20 years ago.

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OldRidgeback replied to Batchy | 9 years ago
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Batchy wrote:

And there is me thinking that the New Inn, Appletreewick,North Yorkshire was the first "cycling" pub in the UK. It used to specialise particularly in mountain bikers with B&B and workshop and spares etc. at least 20 years ago.

I expect there have been pubs in the UK aimed at cyclists since the 1930s at least

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