Axholme Brewing Co beer is to be given a guest spot on the Strangers Bar, in the House of Commons, after an invitation from Great Grimsby MP, Melanie Onn.

Ms Onn recently made a visit to the brewery and has since invited directors Will Douglas and Shahram Shadan to The Strangers Bar at Westminster to promote the rebirth of brewing in the town.

In the meantime, work is well under way at the former St Barnabas Church which will become the brewery’s base, with an official opening expected this summer.

The transformation of the building will see the creation of a visitor viewing area, as well as a shop and bar. Up to 25,000 pints per week will be brewed when the brewery is up and running at full capacity.

 

Cultural centre

 

A new ground floor is currently being laid, and the team have ambitious plans to create a cultural centre upstairs which will host theatre, comedy and arts.

Working with E-Factor, the company secured a grant of £54,000 from the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership’s £8m Growing The Humber programme, which is supported by the government’s Local Growth Fund. It is expected that four new jobs will be created.

Ms Onn said: “It is exciting. I am looking forward to hosting them at Strangers soon and promoting Grimsby’s brewing heritage. The brewery will link in well with the ambitious plans for the Kasbah on Grimsby’s docks.”

Director Will Douglas explained that the expansion of the Crowle-based brewery into Grimsby came about because the demand for beer had outstripped their ability to supply customers. The directors are appealing for anyone with old photographs of the exterior of the church to contact them.

 

» Work starts on new Axholme Brewing base

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