December opening planned for brewery and bar

Work has begun on the renovation and build of a craft brewpub in a landmark mill, due to open in December.

The team at Amity Brew Co has signed a 10-year lease at Sunny Bank Mills in Farsley. They intend to open the 2,500 sq ft brewery and bar with outdoor paved beer garden at the mills’ Festoon Rooms.

The opening will complement the newly developed £2m Weavers Yard which is due to open shortly, and which will feature a 5,000 sq ft outdoor space with 96 car parking spaces.

Since the brewery launched in June 2020, it has created six jobs. The brewery has also caught the eye of national brand Brewdog which has stocked Amity Brew Co beer on draft in over 30 pubs as part of its Up and Coming Festival and has co-brewed a beer that will be on tap in Brewdog bars for its Collabfest in November.

Co-founder and director of Amity Brew Co, Richard Degnan, said: “The community support over the past few months has been incredible including local business Doorstep Wines offering to store our beer so that we can offer click and collect and us selling out at the monthly Farsley Farmers Market.

“We can’t wait to get onsite and start brewing. The pandemic has brought its challenges but the beauty of our start-up team is that we are nimble and willing to adapt.

“Our team brings a lot of heart and passion to Amity Brew Co and that feeling has been picked up by the local and beer community.”

William Gaunt, joint managing director of mill owners Edwin Woodhouse and Co Ltd, said: “We have always been interested in having a micro-brewery here at Sunny Bank Mills, and we have looked at many options over the years.

“When Amity Brew Co came to us we immediately knew they would be the perfect fit.

“Amity will enhance what Sunny Bank Mills has to offer and further cement Farsley as a great place to live and work.

“We are about to start work and we hope that the brewery and tap room will be open before Christmas.

“Amity plan to create a relaxed and pleasant tap room and The Festoon Rooms is a great location right in the heart of the mill complex, with a newly created outdoor terrace area.”

Amity Brew Co has appointed the interiors team behind Sarto, Headingley Stadium and the Masons Gin School and Distillery, Wetherby-based Design Tonic to design and fit the brewpub.

It will have social distancing at the heart of its design, including no seats at the bar, a one-way system and maximised outdoor space.

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