Ale Tasting & Bread Weighing Ceremony – 18th July 2026

Step back in time and join us for one of Ashburton’s most colourful and entertaining traditions. Dating back centuries, the Portreeve Ale Tasting and Bread Weighing Ceremony celebrates the town’s rich medieval heritage and the historic role of the Portreeve and Court.

Proceedings begin at 2.00pm at the historic St Lawrence Chapel on St Lawrence Lane, where the Portreeve, Court officials and dignitaries, dressed in traditional medieval attire, assemble before processing through the town.

As part of this unique ceremony, the Ale Tasters and Bread Weighers visit local inns and bakeries to inspect and sample the town’s produce, continuing a custom that once ensured fair standards for residents. Establishments that pass the test are rewarded with a sprig of evergreen in recognition of their quality.

The afternoon concludes with the traditional auction of the weighed loaves, bringing this lively and much-loved event to a fitting close.

Residents and visitors alike are warmly invited to come along (fancy dress optional) enjoy the pageantry and spectacle, and experience a tradition that has been part of Ashburton life for generations.