Building Our Next Chapter in Long Melford

We’ve come a mighty long way since two friends started mashing in a 10-barrel kit back in Clare in 1986. Now, four decades on, we’re expanding our Long Melford home to bring you a brand-new shop, café, and taproom. It’s our boldest project yet, and we’re building it with the exact same care and Suffolk soul we put into every pint of Old Growler. Grab a ringside seat and watch it take shape.

More Room for You

Back in July 2024, we bought the field and woodland surrounding our brewery. By December, those dreams officially secured planning permission. Come 2027, we’ll be opening our doors a little wider with some thoughtful additions:

More Space to Pull Up a Chair
We’re building a brand-new café and taproom with significantly expanded indoor seating. Whether you're dropping in for a proper coffee and fresh café bites through the day or settling in for a pint straight from the source by evening, there will always be warm spot waiting.

Expanded Beer Garden & Family Play Area
Our landscaped garden has been thoughtfully designed for sunlit Suffolk afternoons. We’re planting native trees for natural shade, building a dedicated kids' play area, and kept things dog-friendly for anyone popping in off the Stour Valley Trail.

A Next-Level Visitors Centre & Brewery Tours
Get closer to the craft with our brand-new visitors centre. Say hello to our copper stills Bonnie & Clyde, and finish with a guided tasting of our core ales, craft lagers, and Melford's Gin.

Effortless Parking & EV Fast Chargers
Visiting us is seamless thanks to a much larger car park equipped with high-voltage EV chargers, so you can power up your vehicle while you recharge over a drink or a bite to eat.

Through the Lens

From Field to Frame

The Story So Far

July 2024

Planting the Seeds: 8 Acres of Opportunity

We officially claim ownership of the 8 acres of field surrounding our Long Melford brewery. The ultimate blank canvas for our next big chapter and a lot of room for big dreams.

August 2025

The Green Light: Planning Permission Approved

After a year of meticulous planning, designing, and a fair bit of eager anticipation, we finally got the official nod from the council. Turns out, dreams really do get planning permission!

January 2026

Breaking Ground: Pouring the Foundations

A brand-new year brought a brand-new start on site. The heavy machinery rolled in, the six-foot security fences went up, and we officially broke ground to lay the rock-solid foundations for our new home.

February 2026

Going Green: The Beer Garden Takes Shape

While the builders focused on the concrete, we were already dreaming of summer. Fresh turf was laid and native trees were planted, mapping out a beautiful, landscaped garden designed for future pints in the Suffolk sunshine.

March 2026

Raising the Bar: The Glulam Frame Erected

A massive visual milestone. Our striking timber Glulam frame was erected, allowing the sheer scale and character of the new shop, café, and taproom to be seen from Rodbridge Corner for the very first time.

April 2026

Making Room: Work Begins on the Car Park

More space inside means we need plenty of room outside, too. Work kicked off on our spacious new car park to ensure that finding a spot is always stress-free when you come down to visit us.

May 2026

Bricks & Mortar: The External Walls Rise

The timber skeleton officially began transforming into a proper building. Our bricklayers got to work on the external walls, enclosing the space and giving us a real feel for our future brewhouse.

May 2026

First Impressions: A Grand Entrance Landscaped

First impressions count, so we cleared and beautifully landscaped the approach to our brand-new site entrance. The new entrance will be larger and easier to navigate.

June 2026

FRONT & CENTER: BUILDING THE MAIN ENTRANCE

Work has officially kicked off on our main entrance! First impressions count, and we're building a grand front door designed to give everyone a proper Suffolk welcome.

August 2026

RAISING THE ROOF: PANELS IN PLACE

The roof panels are officially going up! With the structure rapidly becoming watertight, we're keeping the Suffolk weather on the outside where it belongs.

The Nitty-Gritty

Want the full story? Dive into the details straight from the team on the ground. Read our latest development blogs to find out exactly what's happening behind the six-foot fence.

Frequently asked questions

We are putting the finishing touches on the new shop, café, and taproom through late 2026, with our doors opening wide in for Spring 2027. Keep an eye on our updates and newsletter for the exact grand opening date!

Absolutely. We are brewing and pouring business-as-usual right next door while the new structure comes together. You can still drop in for a pint of Suffolk County, stock up at the shop, or take a tour while watching the new home take shape.

100%. We are building a dedicated kids' play area to keep younger visitors entertained. For dog owners, our outdoor beer garden now features newly planted trees for plenty of natural shade, making it the ideal spot for a pitstop off the Stour Valley Trail and Long Melford Country Park.

You will get fresh pints poured straight from the brewhouse, generous indoor and outdoor seating, and a brand-new café setup. The expanded shop will also carry our full line-up of beers, Melford’s Gin, merchandise, and local Suffolk gifts.

We are taking our tours to the next level with a brand-new visitors centre! Guests will get a firsthand look at our upgraded brewhouse and our copper gin stills, Bonnie & Clyde, concluding with a guided tasting session of our beers and spirits.

We’re adding plenty more indoor seating alongside fresh coffee and café food served right through the day. For evening and weekend visits, we are expanding our lineup of rotating local food trucks to offer a much wider selection of street food to pair with your beer.

Yes! We are establishing an on-site growing area where we’ll cultivate fresh ingredients, botanicals for Melford’s Gin, and pilot crops for special brewery releases.

We’ve constructed a much larger car park to ensure easy parking for every visit. It comes complete with high-voltage fast chargers for electric vehicles, so you can charge up while enjoying a pint, coffee, or a bite to eat.