Everards updates new brewery plan
WORK on a new Everards brewery, beer hall, distillery and head office is expected to get under way early next year – if the updated plans get approved.
The brewer and pub business has had to go back to Blaby District Council after updating the design of its new headquarters on its Everards Meadows site, next to police headquarters in Enderby.
It has planning approval for separate buildings, but management feel enhanced plans to bring the beer hall, HQ and brewery under one roof would make it even more of an attraction.
Work is already well under way on the first phase of the 70-acre site, with steels in place for a new cycling centre and cafe and 2.3km of footpaths and cycle tracks laid out.
Now councillors will have to consider the new proposals for a 200-plus capacity beer hall and a distillery that will allow the brewer to start making its own gins, vodkas, rums or even Japanese-style sakes.
Everards managing director Stephen Gould said they hoped to have a planning decision by the end of the year so the 60-week building project could start early in 2019.
He hopes to be brewing and distilling on-site in the spring of 2020.
Mr Gould said: “In the initial plans the offices, brewery and hub were all separate entities, but we reviewed that position late last year and reached the conclusion it would be far more sensible to integrate the three.
“We’re not asking for different square footage, just an adaptation, so would hope the application would meet with approval.”
Blaby District Council leader Terry Richardson said if the development gained new planning permission it could create a new attraction for the region.
He said: “What they are planning is imaginative and keeps jobs local and shows the commitment of the Everards family to the area.”
Mr Gould said the beer hall would be able to host tasting sessions, brewery tours, food and drink festivals and other events.
He said adding a copper still as part of the £20 million-plus investment would meet growing demand for craft spirits, following in the footsteps of spirits manufacturers such as Burleighs Gin, in Nanpantan, Two Birds, in Harborough, and Sloeberry Spirits, in Cold Overton, near Melton.
The £31 million turnover business sold its site across the road at Castle Acres for an undisclosed amount last year to the land owner the Crown Estate, which is extending Fosse Park with new stores including a flagship Next shop, Debenhams and TK Maxx.
Everards beers are currently being brewed by Robinsons of Stockport and Joule’s of Market Drayton until the new brewery and headquarters are up and running.
In the meantime the Everards management team are working from a purpose-built £4.2 million brewery yard and warehouse in Optimus Point, Glenfield.