Brewery wants to relocate to Lewes

Councillors have retired to consider a bid to open a brewery and taproom in Lewes, following a licensing hearing this week. 
Davey's Lane, LewesDavey's Lane, Lewes
Davey's Lane, Lewes

On Tuesday (December 1), a Lewes District Council licensing panel met to discuss an application for The Malthouse in Davey’s Lane. 

If granted a licence, the premises would operate as the new home for the ABYSS brewery, a local microbrewery run by business partners Andy Bridge and Andy Mellor, who is landlord of the Pelham Arms in Lewes High Street.

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Speaking at the hearing, Mr Mellor said: “We brew and sell beer to a variety of bars around the south east of England and we have internet sales all around the UK.

“The primary use for the site at The Malthouse is going to be our brewsite. We also intend to have a taproom there, so that we can sell our beer to local people and visitors so that they can come and taste what the Abyss beer is all about. 

“What we want to do is create a congenial, inclusive space for people to come and taste the beer.”

Mr Mellor said the brewing side of the business is currently based at an industrial site in Palehouse Common near Uckfield, but it began as an operation run from the basement of The Pelham Arms.

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He said the taphouse would include an outdoor drinking area for customers, but said it was intended to be a “respectful community space” with the business selling “a premium product at premium prices.”

But he added that there would be some events held on site – including tasting sessions and brewery tours – and some (infrequent) live music.

This live music element of the application had proven to be controversial, however, and the proposals had been brought before the panel in light of objections from local residents, due to fear around noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour.

Concerns were also raised around the site’s access arrangements, with some residents arguing that the business would lead to increased traffic pressures and congestion in the area.

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Several of these neighbours spoke at the hearing to share their concerns.  

They included Suzanne Rose, a resident of Malling Street, who said: “I would urge the council to consider the lives of local residents and ensure we are afforded some peace and quiet and safety within our own homes and neighbourhood.

“I would love to see a new business thrive and develop but I would be concerned that if it were allowed to do so with such a loose framework of opening hours, then we could be dealing with a very different proposition in six months or a year’s time. 

“I would want, if this is to be granted permission, to have some kind of constraints. Maybe modify the opening hours, maybe no opening at all on Sundays to give us some respite on one day of the week.”

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Ms Rose also suggested that councillors place a limit on the number of live music events the venue could hold each year and to prevent any festival or club-style events from taking place on site. 

Similar concerns were raised by other neighbours who spoke at the hearing, although most appeared to not to object to the idea of off-sales from (or brewing on) the site.

Panel member Cllr Christine Robinson, put it this way: “The consensus seems to be from residents that they don’t mind the brewery there, they just don’t want the tap room. 

“What about off sales? People being able to come and buy ten bottles or whatever they want without problem, basically like an old off-licence.” 

This was not disputed by the residents present. 

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While this approach was not supported by Mr Bridge and Mr Mellor, the pair did offer to modify their application in light of residents’ concerns. 

The brewers had initially been seeking opening hours of midday to 11pm (and 10pm on Sundays), but said they would not object to reducing this after hearing from residents.

Mr Bridge said:  “We are happy to reduce trading hours. The hours we put on the application were based on the Pelham Arms and that alone. 

“So if it were a concern to you we would be happy to reduce the hours on a Sunday and close a lot earlier. We would be happy to close earlier in the week, say have the site cleared by 10pm and last orders at 9pm. 

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“A lot of our customers have ale houses along the coast and they close earlier; that is their mantra. We would be happy to echo that.

“I would say that you mentioned there is lots of new development going on [in this area]. Developments need local services and we intend to be a good one. That side of town, we think, is underserviced.”  

After hearing representations, councillors retired to consider the application in private. The panel is expected to publish its decision within the next five working days.