South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous has visited the first brewery to be established in Leighton Buzzard for more than 100 years.
The Leighton Buzzard Brewery Company is now producing high quality craft beers within the town. Andrew Selous visited the firm’s Harmill Industrial Estate base off Grovebury Road, to see how the beer was made and talked to Jon d’Este-Hoare who has set up the new venture.
Mr Selous said: “I am delighted that a new brewery is opening in the town. I was particularly pleased to hear that several local pubs have already agreed to stock Leighton Buzzard Brewery beer and I hope the number willing to do so will increase rapidly.”
Jon added: “The last couple of months has been busy preparing the unit with much help from friends from the town and elsewhere – it is amazing how many friends you have when opening a brewery!
“The guys from Bewdley Brewery came over on July 20 and stayed in the town until the 23rd installing the brewing equipment over three very long hot days with the visit culminating in the first brew.
“The first beer was tested on August 4 and found to be great so has been distributed to six local pubs for the weekend of August 8-9.”
The brewery will be opening for the first time to the public who can go and meet Jon and buy beer on the August 16 (10am – 4pm).
He said “All three beers brewed to date will be available to buy in two and four pint take-out containers or ‘bags-in-a-box’ containing five, 10 or 20 litres. Just in time for the football season!”
The father-of-two, from Leighton, currently works full-time in the renewable energy industry but will be reducing his hours once the brewery is operational with view to being completely full-time when possible.
For more information the micro brewery contact Jon on 07538 903753, email at jon@leightonbuzzardbrewing.co.uk or see www.leightonbuzzardbrewing.co.uk.
> Between the middle of the 19th Century and early 20th Century the former Leighton Buzzard Brewery used to occupy the current Waitrose site and the walk down to the High Street.
Watford-based brewer Benskins were the last owners of the brewery before closing it in the early 20th century.