Shipstone’s shifts brewing back to Nottingham

Iconic Nottingham beer Shipstone’s has shifted production back to Basford in the city.

Shipstone’s beer will be brewed at Little Star Brewery Church Lane, Old Basford, Nottingham. Shipstone’s has teamed up with Kym Ellington and Turnstone Taverns to refurbish and transform the existing Alcazar Brewery into Shipstone’s Little Star Brewery. The microbrewery is attached to former Shipstone’s pub The Fox & Crown.

The brewery has been dormant for a number of months after an attempt to bring it back to life, and Turnstone Taverns approached Shipstone’s about moving its brewing from the Vale of Belvoir back to Nottingham. The Fox & Crown will act as the brewery tap house and serve brewery fresh beers all the time.

Colin Brown, who brewed at the original Star Brewery in Basford, has been brewing Shipstone’s cask ale in Old Dalby. Brown has trained up two young brewers and one of them Patrick Storey, will be joining the Shipstone’s team.

Director Simon Neale said: “Having Pat join the team is brilliant, he is an excellent brewer who has learnt so much from Colin and is ready to spread his wings. We have run a number of test brews, conducted some blind taste tests and the results have been very positive. Murphy & Son are on our doorstep to supply our ingredients including yeast cultured in their labs. It means we are brewing proper Basford beer”

Kym Ellington from Turnstone Taverns said: “This is a new era for The Fox & Crown and its brewhouse. Having Richard and the Shipstone’s team come on board is brilliant and it’s great to help get the brewing back in Basford. We have a new team in the pub, Doug & Charlie who are making a massive difference. I have tried the beer already it went down a treat.”