Bishop's Castle brewery to expand underground (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Bishop's Castle brewery to expand underground

8:00am Monday 21st January 2013 in News By Adrian Kibbler

A SOUTH Shropshire brewery is expanding – by building down.

More than 200 tonnes of steel has also been used to expand the Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop’s Castle so far in a £1m redevelopment, but more space in now needed to cope with growing demand.

The brewery, believed to be one of the oldest in the country has been brewing, operating and attracting visitors to Bishop’s Castle since the 16th century.

Today they come from across the globe to pay homage to this cathedral of brewing.

It has seen a rapid demand for its beers which include Cleric’s Cure, Rantipole and XXX.

The Grade II listed building uses a blend of 21st century technology and tradition gravitational process to produce real ales.

Running at full-capacity, director Bill Bainbridge says the investment in upgrading the buildings 10 years ago is paying dividends now as customer demand requires increasing capacity.

“We’ve always pledged to keep the Three Tuns at its cur rent site,” said Bill Bainbridge.

“After reinforcing it, injecting 200 tonnes of steel and upgrading all the brewing equipment, we’re continuing to think outside of the box.”

“The process cannot be replicated to produce the high qualities we brew now and due to our history, relocation is not an option.

“As demand goes through the roof, our expansion is, quite literally, going through the ground.”

Working with a team of engineers and surveyors, the firm is plotting a revolutionary way to excavate into the ground that the site sits on.

“We are seeing our fastest growth in our history with thanks to the recent investments,” said John Russell, managing director of the brewery.”

Philip Dunne has promised to discuss the concerns of brewers with the treasury ahead of the budget in the spring after being pressed by representatives from Hobson’s in Cleobury Mortimer and the Sun Inn at Lentwardine to back a change in taxation plans that they fear will kill off an expanding local industry.

Ludlow and south Shropshire has nine breweries and nearly 170 pubs providing direct employment to 1,100 people.

But brewers and licenses have seen tax on beer increase by 42 per cent since 2008.