Blue Monkey Brewery's Tap Room Plans Rejected by Broxtowe Council

Strategic Insights -

Despite being granted a premises license to serve alcohol, Blue Monkey Brewery's new tap room has been mothballed after planning permission was rejected. The brewery, which produces just shy of one million pints a year at Giltbrook Industrial Park, spent a significant amount of money creating the rustic-style tap room. The plan sought to change the use of an empty unit next door from a warehouse and showroom to a tap room and shop, but was turned down on the grounds that it would have an adverse impact on nearby town centers, Kimberley and Eastwood.

Key Takeaways:

  • Blue Monkey Brewery's tap room plans were rejected by Broxtowe Council due to concerns over the potential impact on nearby town centers Kimberley and Eastwood.
  • The brewery spent a significant amount of money creating the tap room, which would have sold 40-plus beers, wine, coffee, and bar snacks.
  • The tap room would have created 60 additional seats upstairs and potentially moved the shop into the tap room, allowing for further tours and brewery experience days.
  • Blue Monkey Brewery's commercial director, Ian Wesley, believes that the tap room would have brought more drinkers to the area, rather than taking business away from other pubs.
  • The brewery has been advised to reapply with a fresh application after changing planning consultants.
  • The new tap room would have created a "pub crawl" experience, with the ability to sample beers from different breweries.
  • The rejection of the tap room plans has been met with support from the local business community, including Coffee Central owner, Gavin Dow, who believes that the tap room would have been a healthy addition to the area.
  • Broxtowe's chairman of planning, Councillor Stephen Jeremiah, has offered to meet with the brewery to discuss a route forward.

Statistics:

  • Blue Monkey Brewery produces just shy of one million pints a year.
  • The tap room would have sold 40-plus beers, wine, coffee, and bar snacks.
  • The tap room would have created 60 additional seats upstairs.
  • The brewery employs 13 people.
  • The tap room would have been open in the next few months if the plans had been approved.

Sources:

  • Blue Monkey Brewery
  • Nottinghamshire Live
  • Great British Pub Crawl
  • Broxtowe Borough Council
  • Coffee Central