A year after its sale to the world’s biggest drinks company (Budweiser firm AB InBev, fact fans) it’s inevitably on the end of some big dollar refurb. Set to reopen in February, there’ll be “more beer, seating, taps, toilets, tables and a packed schedule of events”.
Ramshackle charm of the current set-up aside, we reckon it’s probably more or less about time for a spruce-up, after five years’ of pulling what must be thousands (millions?) of pints of Hells.
And even if they sort out the toilets and nothing else we’d be, erm, relieved, especially the #awkward too-close urinals in the minuscule men’s room. Although we bet those walls could tell a few boozy tales.
Here’s founder Jasper Cuppaidge, speaking to us last year about the proposed changes: “We’ll remove the outside tanks so the emphasis can be on the tours and people coming down to brew a beer. There’ll be a meeting room for hire, a bar in the middle of room, a permanent outside kitchen for traders, and the arch next door will be converted to expand our surface area. We want to return to more tastings and educating punters, which was the point in the first place. And yes, don’t worry, we’ll have a much more improved toilets system.”
So if you’re about tomorrow (5th November) pop by to say farewell to the brewery bar as we’ve known it for half a decade; staff will also be giving tours so locals can see what’s planned.
