Joule’s Brewery has revealed ambitious £1 million plans for its Market Drayton base, following a public consultation event earlier this month.
The imposing Joule’s Brewery building in Market Drayton
A highlight of the plan is the incorporation of the Stag’s Head pub, purchased last year, into the larger Joule’s site. “Our brewery is the heart of our pub network, and we’re passionate about making The Stag a seamless part of it,” says the brewer.
Joule’s is gearing up to expand its brewery operations. Currently, it’s operating at full capacity, particularly with production of its Green Monkey craft lager. There are plans to add more maturation vessels and other necessary infrastructure.
Cementing its links with its community, agreement has been reach to house Market Drayton’s Museum within the brewery complex. Subject to planning consent, this will be in space behind The Stag.
Working with Drayton Civic Society, plans have been drawn up for a proposed exhibition area of more than 200 square metres, showcasing the town’s heritage.
“We’re immensely proud to collaborate with the Civic Society on this venture, and envision a long-lasting partnership,” said a spokesperson for Joule’s. “As part of our commitment, we intend to construct the space and offer it to the society free of charge.
“In turn, the society will spearhead fundraising efforts to outfit the space, ensuring it’s ready to house their remarkable collection.
“We’ve had some fantastic collaborations with different charities and organisations in the past. For instance, at our sister site in Stone, Crown Wharf, we teamed up with the Stone Town Council to bring the Old Fire Station back to life as a heritage centre.
“Plus, we helped kick-start the local theatre trust, Crown Wharf Theatre. These partnerships mean a lot to us, and we’re always excited about working together to make a positive impact in our communities.”
Joule’s also has plans for its Red Lion pub, in Market Drayton, but will reveal more about these once plans for The Stag are approved.
Subject to planning consent, Joule’s aims to start work on its plans this summer. “Our goal is to wrap up construction and be more or less finished by early 2025,” said the brewer.
“During the development period, the new Stag will take centre stage as our primary pub, allowing us to focus on renovating The Red Lion. Furthermore, our other Market Drayton Taphouse, The Sandbrook Vaults, is just a stone’s throw round the corner from the brewery!
“We want to make sure that people can still enjoy a pint of Joule’s during this transition period, and if everything goes according to plan, we might just be putting the finishing touches on everything by the summer of 2025!”
For more details about these plans, click here.
