Shropshire brewery toasts £1m expansion
A booming Shropshire brewery today unveiled £1million expansion plans. Market Drayton-based Joule's Brewery is to open nine pubs after securing more than £1million from The Co-Operative Bank.
The brewery's managers say the funding will help them to expand their Tap House branded public houses which now span Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire and Wales.
Managing director Steve Nuttall said the company – set up in 2010 – was bucking the trend in the brewing industry.
"While many pub chains have been hit hard by the downturn, Joule's shows how we are giving people what they want: Really good beer, good food and stripped back and uncomplicated interiors in lovely historical buildings."
Joule's, which employs 10 staff, currently lists 18 pubs among its estate, including the Red Lion in Market Drayton, which is the pub attached to the brewery.
It also owns the Fox & Hounds at nearby Cheswardine, plus the Bricklayers Arms in Copthorne Road in Shrewsbury and the Castle Hotel in Wem.
The fresh investment will help the company towards its plan of establishing nine more premises, as it targets a total estate of 25 Joule's pubs.
Its strategy is to limit its list of pubs to ensure each is unique.
In November, Joule's was handed a refurbishment award for the renovation of the Red Lion, in Great Hales Street, Market Drayton.
The £1.6million brewery opened in late 2010.
It resurrected the long tradition of brewing in Market Drayton.
Among the brews on offer are the Slumbering Monk and Joule's Pale Ale.
Today's boost comes two years after the Co-operative bank agreed £2million funding for the construction of the brewery which produces 10,000 barrels of beer a year.
Chrissie Nuttall, from Joule's, said: "Our vision for our pubs is to create the very best houses we can. It's not an easy challenge to be at our best for every single experience but it is our absolute goal."
