Presented by local distillery Lanty Slee at The Stickle Barn, The Lake District is set to host its inaugural annual Octoberfest. The event will showcase over 50 artists and DJs, featuring more than 50 different beers and ales on draught, along with much more.
Located in The Langdale Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this four-day celebration will include music across multiple stages. Notable headliners include Radio 1’s Charlie Tee, reggae icons Dub Pistols, and Barrow’s own AIM. Manchester’s 10-piece Riot Jazz brass band will join local favorites such as folk group Face The West and the 8-piece Ska-Reggae outfit Bad Transmission from Ulverston. The lineup will also feature 6-piece funk band Steel Foxes, as well as local star Evie Plumb (of Lowes) and Meetwood Flac.
The festival aims to highlight some of the Lake District and surrounding areas’ best emerging talent, including Shark Le Funk spinning vinyl sets, and a full folk acoustic stage presented in partnership with Lanty Slee, showcasing artists like Undercover Hippy, Native Cult, and Jon Dawes.
As is fitting for an Octoberfest, a diverse offering of drinks and food will be available for enthusiasts. Attendees can indulge in guest ales from local breweries such as Bowness Bay, Coniston, Fell Brewery, Tirril The Lakeland Brewery, Langdale Brewing Co, Keswick, Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Gan Yam Brewery, Old School Brewery, and Crooked River.
For those who prefer something stronger, spirits and cocktails will be provided by Lanty Slee, showcasing their award-winning range of vodka, gin, rum, and whisky in the Cocktail Tipi. Street food will be offered by Earthworm Kitchen, providing vegan options, while Lanty Slee’s festival menu will feature everything from bratwurst and burgers to hog roasts and mac n cheese.
The festival will also feature a variety of workshops such as art classes, yoga, foraging, and guided walks. One highlight will be a Sip & Paint session with Millie Scribbles, where attendees can create a unique souvenir inspired by the beautiful Langdale Valley. All workshops will include the Lanty Slee pouring range and will be free for ticket holders.
Octoberfest Directors Joe Nichols of Langdale and Sam Dixon of Coniston expressed their excitement: “We feel privileged to have the opportunity to organise a celebration of this scale for Langdale and the wider Cumbrian region. We have long envisioned a locally focused event that unites our rural community, collaborating with the very best suppliers and creative professionals. This festival is meant to be a respectful celebration of this stunning valley.”
Set against one of the nation’s most picturesque backdrops, Lanty Slee’s debut Lake District Octoberfest promises to be a feast for the senses.
Full weekend tickets (valid for four days) start at £60.50 for adults and £22 for children. Day tickets are nearly sold out and are priced at £22. Camping options, including bell tents and campervan sites, start at £367.50 and £49.75, respectively.
The Lanty Slee distillery is located in the Stickle Barn in Great Langdale, which has been managed by the National Trust for the past decade. As they take on larger projects, they sought a local operator to continue their excellent work.
The distillery is named after Lancelot Slee, historically known as Lanty, a significant figure in the region who was famous for supplying the Lake District with illicit liquor for over 50 years. Born in 1802, Lanty was a quarryman by day and a bootlegger by night, employing ingenious methods to transport his goods past excise officials.
Lanty Slee would often pass The Stickle Barn on his way to Wrynose Pass, traveling to Ravenglass for supplies, a journey taking four days by pack horse with his loyal lurcher companion.
The distillery officially took over the building at the end of May and spent five weeks refurbishing it for summer operations. Besides distilling its own spirits, the venue has a café offering cakes, coffee, local ales, Lanty spirits, handcrafted cocktails, hearty meals, and entertainment from 10 am to 10 pm daily, with live music every weekend featuring a mix from folk to Ibiza chillout classics.
Tickets are available now here.
Octoberfest – 24th – 27th October, Langdale Valley
Artists:
- Headliners: Dub Pistols, Charlie Tee, Riot Jazz, AIM & NIKO, Face The West
Full Line-Up:
- Alex Taylor
- Evie Plumb
- Briar & Bramble
- Hadrians Union
- Thieving Magpies
- Noir
- Steel Foxes
- Jon Dawes
- Josh Robins
- Native Cult
- Robert Lane
- Rodney Branigan
- The Valiant Knights
- Undercover Hippy
- Meetwood Flac
- Caravanouche
- Melanie Baker & The Band
- Hang Dimension
- Tyan
- Ben Dyson
- Luke Evans
- Molly Warburton
- Bossyking
- Bad Transmission
- LA French
- Shark Le Funk
- Robin Walker
- Andy Hackney
- Haz Money
- LP & Tiff
- Grey Ghost
- Homegrown DJs
- Sister Smalls
- Roze Gold
- Niall Dolan
- Reiign Music
- Charlie Manerlie
- Plus more to be announced!
