City brewer to take over former Wild Beer taproom
BRISTOL Beer Factory will take over the large Wapping Wharf site previously home to Wild Beer, it has been announced. Bristol’s longest-standing independent brewery will be opening its fourth venue, Junction, a nod to the historical Bristol Harbour Railway.
Wild Beer’s harbourside taproom, pictured inset, has been closed since February after the landlord “decided to take back the premises” and search for a new pub operator. Wild Beer Co was saved from administration in January by Curious Brewery but the deal excluded the taproom.
Umberslade, the owner of Wapping Wharf, has selected Bristol Beer Factory as the new tenant after reportedly receiving swathes of applications from operators wanting to move into the glassfronted unit overlooking the harbour. Work has already begun on the premises and the BBF team plans to bring a slice of proper pub culture to the space.
Managing director of Bristol Beer Factory Sam Burrows said: “Wapping Wharf is such an iconic area of Bristol, and we’re thrilled to be joining what is the most vibrant community of independent retailers in the city. We’re aiming to create a destination for everyone, from those popping by for lunch, an after-work beer, or somewhere to enjoy a drink by the harbourside, with a range of our own locally brewed beers, lagers and ciders, but also of other locally made Bristol drinks.”
Bristol Beer Factory – which is part of the Pony Group family – will be working with chef and restauranteur Josh Eggleton to create a menu of classic pub grub dishes. Stuart Hatton, managing director at Umberslade said: “It was undeniably sad to say goodbye to Wild Beer after six years at Wapping Wharf, but we’re extremely excited to bring a new lease of life to this space, which has historically always been part of the heart of Wapping Wharf. In line with our ethos of working with local, independent businesses, we were keen to not only bring a Bristol business into the space, but also to bring in a business who can provide a central hub to Wapping Wharf, and we knew that Bristol Beer Factory were the perfect fit.”
Junction is set to open in the spring. It will be the fourth venue in the brewery’s portfolio on top of the taproom, the Arnolfini bar and the Barley Mow in St Philips. Bristol Beer Factory has also recently opened Studio BBF, an extension of the North Street taproom in Southville previously home to Pony Bistro.