For a few years we have been looking very seriously at the idea of expansion, both for our brewery operations and retail offering in London. Our founder and Managing Director Tom has spent a great deal of time over that period visiting potential locations around the city in order to realise this growth. Having viewed sites on industrial estates across south and east London it became clear that these kinds of location didn’t quite feel right for the next chapter of Brew By Numbers. We were looking for something different, something that felt in keeping with our industrial history but added a genuine wow factor. Looking around the world at how taprooms and drinking spaces operate (with a nod to American taprooms and festivals like IndyMan) it became apparent that in many cases the space in which we enjoy a drinking experience is just as important as the quality of the beer. Travelling to many of these taprooms and festivals over the years we were really looking for a space with that kind of unique feeling. We are thrilled to announce that we have finally found that space and our new home in Greenwich.
Having begun the Brew By Numbers journey in a basement near London Bridge and having spent the best part of a decade in a railway arch in Bermondsey it is true that Southwark and Enid St in particular are the spiritual home of the brewery and form a great part of its identity (for those who might be worried that we won’t feature on the Bermondsey Beer Mile, fear not, we are keeping our taproom on the stretch). We wanted the new site to feel like an extension of our brewery without losing touch with our rich history.
When Tom visited Morden Wharf on the Greenwich Peninsula in January of 2020, he knew very quickly that this was the right location. Not only was the Victorian warehouse vast (perfect for the expansion of the brewery) but it also held a raw industrial character that fit perfectly with our Bermondsey roots. The space also sits on the banks of the River Thames, providing drinkers with breath-taking views across the water to the City of London.
In the spring of 2021, we finally signed the lease on 6,000 square feet of refurbished warehouse space, including room for a large brewery, taproom and a 2000 square foot outside drinking and dining area. This space allows the opportunity for hundreds of patrons to experience this unique location year-round, with an emphasis on spectacular summertime drinking and foodie events (watch this space for a small festival announcement in the coming weeks!).
The site at Morden Wharf is a regeneration project for Greenwich and we find ourselves at the start of that process. In the coming months and years, we will be joined by several like-minded businesses (including food pop-ups and independent shops) and residential buildings, helping to create a thriving community with our brewery at the centre of it all. We cannot wait to grow into the area and welcome drinkers both familiar and new to Brew By Numbers at Morden Wharf.
As a fitting tribute to our move to Morden Wharf we worked with U+I and incredible London based illustrator Will Sweeney on a label design that best demonstrated the community feel of Morden Wharf and our place within the space. The label is a beautiful representation and adorns the incredible 42 DDH Pale Ale – Morden Wharf that was brewed to celebrate our move. This juicy, full-bodied pale ale can be purchased here.
