CURIOUS CELEBRATES BREWERYS TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY
artist’s impression
Curious Brewery recently held the topping-out ceremony for its new brewery in Ashford, celebrating the highest piece of the new steel structure being secured into place. Curious Brewery is owned by Chapel Down Group, owner of Chapel Down wines, sparkling wines and spirits.
The topping-out ceremony included local dignitaries including Gerry Clarkson, the Leader of Ashford Borough Council, Curious Brewery MD Gareth Bath, Chapel Down CEO Frazer Thompson and staff from across the businesses who all enjoyed a Curious Brew to mark the key milestone in the brewery’s building schedule.
Opening in Ashford, Kent in March 2019 the multi-million pound project, state-of-the art, custom-built brewery is located just a stone’s throw away from Ashford International Station. Gareth Bath says, “The brewery is really beginning to take shape and we’ve been delighted with the progress we’ve made so far. Our opening date towards the end of March is on-track and we’re making plans for the opening and beyond.
“The new Curious Brewery won’t just be a major new employer in Ashford, directly and indirectly creating dozens of new jobs, it will be a reason for thousands of new visitors to come to the town each year and become a significant new focal point for everyone who lives here. “The Curious Brewery is, obviously, going to produce thousands of litres of premium English lager, but the bar, restaurant and gardens mean it’ll be so much more than ‘just’ a brewery, our doors will be open.”
The 1.6 acre site that includes the custom built 5-vessel brewhouse, will be capable of producing more than four-and-a-half million pints per year. Beer will be kegged and bottled on site at a rate of more than 4,000 bottles an hour.
The new brewery will take inspiration from the tourism experiences offered at the Chapel Down Winery. Curious’ Cicerone-trained team will host small group tours of the brewery facility that will tell the full
field-to-throat story of their range of premium beers and ciders. Curious guests will be taken on a journey through the production side of the brewery before sitting down for a tasting of the core range & any limited batch beers straight from the tanks, to ensure the freshest and best quality beer is enjoyed by all.
The brewery ground floor will consist of a 1,000sq foot shop, bar and hosting area for the tours. Spectacular landscaped kitchen gardens taking inspiration from the Kent coastline at Dungeness Headland and the raw hop and barley ingredients of Curious beers, alongside a waterfall feature cascading from the front of the brewery, will complete the ground floor.
The first floor will feature a premium 4,000sq foot bar and two dining rooms, where an open kitchen will serve modern British cuisine with ingredients sourced from local suppliers.
In the luxury private dining room, once a week, guests will have the opportunity to book onto special masterclasses hosted by one of the brewery-team and featuring a bespoke menu from the kitchen, each
carefully paired with a beer fromte Curious range to showcase the quality local ingredients. And of course, as part of the Chapel Down Group, guests can expect a full range of premium wines, spirits and cocktails for those looking for an alternative to the joys of beer.
The SHEPWAY & CANTERBURY ADVERTISER PAGE 35
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
