Microbrewery’s new venue to tap into global success
THE backstreets around Piccadilly have become something of a pilgrimage for beer lovers at the weekends, with a growing cluster of microbreweries popping up to populate what was once a desolate, industrial wasteland.
Now there’s another reason to wander off the beaten path with the opening of a new taproom from Cloudwater - the Manchester brewery regularly ranked among the best in the world.
Based next to the brewery on the Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9 replaces the former Barrel Store taproom on Sheffield Street, and features 20 draught taps showcasing fresh releases and barrel-aged beers.
Local gin, low-intervention wine, small-batch soft drinks and a selection of cold snacks will also be available - and the team hope to provide a wider food offering in future.
There’s also an on-site shop offering cans and bottles to take home directly from a walk-in cold store, as well as brewery merchandise.
Paul Jones, director and founder of Cloudwater Brew Co, said the taproom had been designed to present the beer at its very best.
“This takes us a step closer to the taproom of our dreams and allows our customers to enjoy our beer direct from the source, in greater comfort than before,” he said.
“We make huge effort to champion freshness in beer and emphasise the need for beer to be cold stored at every step of the journey between brewery and customer.
“So it’s really exciting to be able to serve our beer from the same cold store it was moved to immediately after being packaged.” The venue features a minimal, Scandi-influenced design showcasing artwork commissioned by Cloudwater over the years, plus thrown ceramic lampshades, benches and tiles made at Sadler’s Yard gallery and design studio Plant NOMA. “Having worked closely with Chris Shearston from Textbook Studio, Joe Hartley and Ben Young from Oh Ok Ltd, our lead carpenter and joiner Rory Paul Jones Thompson, Yvan Seth from Jolly Good Beer, and a host of visionary craftsmen, designers, artists, and makers, we are thrilled to see our tap room vision launch with such a vibrant, spacious, creative energy, backed up by the highest-quality workings behind the taps,” said Paul.
Unit 9 can be found at 9 Piccadilly Trading Estate and will initially be open from 3pm to 10pm, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and 10am to 10pm on Saturdays. The taproom will be open seven days a week once the fit-out is completed.
The brewery is also opening its first bar in London at 73 Enid Street, Bermondsey, this autumn.