First look at Wiper & True’s vast new brewery and taproom

A huge new brewery and taproom is almost ready to open in Old Market.

Currently, Wiper & True have two sites in St Werburgh’s – their headquarters on York Street and a barrel store on nearby Merstham Road – but the business needs more space.

Spreading its wings to City Business Park off Easton Road, the award-winning Bristol brewery’s new base will see the company double its brewing capacity.

“We aren’t leaving St Werburgh’s but we needed some more room to expand. We wanted a different venue where we could do more, involve more people and maybe bring in a different crowd,”  Alice Howells from Wiper & True told Bristol24/7.

The popular craft ale brewers are moving to a larger premises

In what used to be IMI Engineering, Wiper & True is taking on five units on the industrial estate, a 28,000 square foot space which will house the main beer production facility, the warehouse, offices, and a new taproom.

There, Wiper & True in BS5 will offer 22 beer lines, including its much-celebrated Kaleidoscope Pale Ale, In The Pines Amber Ale and Milk Shake Milk Stout.

As well as lots of beer for pint-drinkers, there will be natural and biodynamic wine, locally-made soft drinks and spirits from Psychopomp and Circumstance on offer.

Alice said: “We want to make sure that we make it in an inclusive and accessible space. We’re working with mobility organisations to help us make sure that the venue is accessible for all kinds of abilities or otherwise. We’ve got a drop bar for wheelchair access, as well as the toilets that are not just urinals and one women’s toilet.”

“The main thing is that we want everyone to feel welcome. Anyone can come down, whether they drink, they’re young, old, whether they come on their own or with a big group of people – we want everyone to feel like they can be here.”

 

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The new taproom’s food vendor will be Eatchu, who are set to pitch a permanent base at the site. Eatchu are best known for serving their sticky gyoza and other Japanese street food dishes from St Nick’s Market.

Outside, there will be trees, seating, some covered, and festoon lighting.

Alice said: “Eventually the idea is we want it to feel like a bit of a haven or garden of Eden kind of vibes, where you like to step into the industrial estate and reach us and it feels very different. There will be lots of herbaceous plants and flowers as well around the trees.”

The business will also be hosting events in the new site in between Old Market and Easton, including yoga brunch clubs, cheese and wine tasting, jumble sales and more.

There is a strong focus on sustainability at the new site, installing as many solar panels as they could afford on the roof

Wiper & True will join the likes of other Bristol breweries including Left Handed Giant, Good Chemistry Brewing and Newtown Park close by in St Philip’s.

It also follows in the footsteps of Wiper & True co-founder Cesca Garton’s great-great-grandfather Charles Garton, who owned Garton Brewery a stone’s throw from their new home.

The taproom at the new site will open on July 15.

For more information, visit: wiperandtrue.com/pages/the-wiper-and-true-taproom-old-market-bristol

All photos: Betty Woolerton

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