Cheers as plans for a new brewery at a popular community pub wins major funding

Plans for a new brewery at a community run Staffordshire pub are set to go ahead with the support of a £40,000 community grant from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Rural Brew unveiled plans to set up home at the White Hart, Alton, two years ago. The pub’s owner, the Alton White Hart Community Interest Company say the plan will regenerate dilapidated former outbuildings, bring extra tourism to the village, and create new income for the historic High Street pub, safeguarding jobs.

The Alton White Hart CIC worked with third sector funding specialists Heaward Solutions to win funding from the district council via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Work is set to begin as early as next month (September, 2024) with completion by January, 2025.

Rural Brew owner Rob Goodley is currently a home-based brewer but has won orders from businesses, including Alton Towers, and needs space to grow.

Planning permission was granted in early 2023 for a glass fronted brewhouse with a capacity to brew up to 2,000 litres of beer every three weeks.

Tom Wilkinson, chair of the Alton White Hart CIC, said: “The plans are innovative and involve the creation of an attractive building where the brewing process will be visible to passers-by.  Our aim at the White Hart has always involved supporting the local economy and to create sustainable community assets and jobs.

“This development will support around 11 full time equivalent jobs at the White Hart and encourage more people into the village through promotion of brewery tours.

“It will also support Rob, an Alton resident, in his plans to grow his business. Regular brewery tours will be held, bringing people into the village.”

“We are thankful for the support of Andrew Heaward and his company Heaward Solutions who expertly steered our application for funding to a successful outcome and are delighted to back Rob and Rural Brew, a growing business that produces superb beer.”

Heaward Solutions, based in Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire, specialises in fundraising and strategy for not-for-profit companies and charities. It has been successful in raising millions of pounds for projects across the UK.

Founder Andrew Heaward said: “I have known Tom for many years and have previously supported the Alton White Hart CIC. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has a stated aim of building pride by supporting communities, people, and skills.

“We believed that The Rural Brew project was a perfect fit, as it creates a new asset in a rural village and helps to sustain jobs and a significant community asset, the White Hart.

“Our team were pleased to be able to work successfully with Tom and Rob and were now looking forward to the day when we can raise a glass and toast the opening of a new brewery for Alton.”

Under the agreement, the Community Interest Company will add its own contribution of £34,000 to the £40,000 UK Shared Prosperity Fund award. Rural Brew will be responsible for fitting out the brewery.

The White Hart was bought was bought by Alton villagers after being put up for sale by pub chain Marston’s in 2014. There are more than 70 shareholders in the White Hart Community Interest Company , which owns the pub and neighbouring allotments.