New brewing company Merakai hoping to open taproom in Worthing

Merakai Brewing Co was founded in November 2020 by co-owners Emma O’Neill-Parsons and award-winning brewer Olly Parsons.

The pair have now submitted a planning application for a taproom at 8 Stanford Square, adjacent to Pizza Express and just off of Warwick Street.

A Crowdfunder for the venture has currently raised £5,725 of the £7,550 target.

The proposed venue could open four days a week, also opening during the evenings, according to a planning document submitted to the council.

There would be capacity for around 50 people at the ‘intimate’ venue which would also offer limited food options in addition to Merakai’s craft beers.

Founders Emma and Olly say the business ‘continues to grow despite a cost of living crisis and global pandemic’ with their beers now sold by multiple stockists in eight countries.

In a Crowdfunder update they said: “We are really grateful to have the space to make our amazing beers, but our little brewery location is not a great place to host events and connect with our community. We have been searching for the perfect venue for our taproom, and I am really happy to say that the wait is finally over. We’ve found it, right in our backyard (not literally).”

Branded as a ‘community hub’ the venue would also seek to host events, brewing collaborations, and charity partnerships.

The pair also hope to ‘develop the next generation of brewers’ through a youth training scheme.

Visit Worthing Borough Council’s planning portal using the reference: AWDM/1860/22.