Our Story

It All Started with a Pint (and a Plan)

Some of the best ideas begin in the pub — and ours was no different. Back in 1986, two old school friends, Ian Hornsey and Dick Burge, found themselves in a Clare tavern lamenting the sorry state of local beer. The pints weren’t up to scratch, and both were convinced Suffolk deserved better.

Between them, they had just the right mix of know-how and nerve: Ian, a trained microbiologist with a perfectionist’s eye for process, and Dick, a numbers man with a head for business and a heart for community. Together, they set out to brew something honest, flavourful, and unmistakably local.

They bought a small 10-barrel Peter Austin brewery on Clare’s Nethergate Street and named it after its home: Nethergate Brewery. From day one, their mission was simple — make beer they were proud to drink and happy to share.

What started as a pub conversation quickly turned into a Suffolk institution.

The Birth of Two Classics

The early days were a mix of long hours, steep learning curves, and a fair bit of “quality control” in the name of research. But out of that came two beers that would define who we are.

First came Suffolk County, a chestnut best bitter full of biscuity malt and gentle hops — our very first real ale and an instant local hit. It was everything Ian and Dick wanted their beer to be: balanced, honest, and proudly traditional.

Then, later that same year, came a festive experiment that changed everything. Brewed as a one-off Christmas special called Christmas Cracker, this rich, dark porter proved too good to stay seasonal. When the new year rolled around, the beer stayed — renamed Old Growler, after Ian’s loyal bulldog and brewery mascot.

Bold, smooth, and full of character, Old Growler went on to become our flagship — winning national and international awards, including Champion Winter Beer of Britain (twice). More importantly, it became the beer we’re still most often judged by — and we’re proud to say it’s stood the test of time.

Those two brews set the tone for everything that followed: crafted with care, driven by flavour, and rooted in Suffolk soul.

Bigger Brews, New Home

With Suffolk County and Old Growler firmly on the bar, Nethergate began to earn a loyal following across East Anglia. What started as a passion project in a small Clare brewhouse was becoming a name that beer drinkers recognised — not just for quality, but for character.

The 1990s were years of flavour and experimentation. Ian and Dick pushed boundaries, playing with new ingredients, old recipes, and vivid flavours long before “craft beer” was a buzzword. Beers like Golden Gate, Umbel Ale, and Umbel Magna turned heads for their originality — rich, spiced, and full of personality — each one a reflection of Nethergate’s curiosity and craftsmanship.

As demand grew, so did the need for space. In 2004, the brewery crossed the border into Pentlow, Essex, setting up in a larger 45-barrel brewhouse on a working farm. It was a big step up, but the ethos remained the same: small team, big heart, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

That era brought together a new generation of brewers — including Ian Carson, now our Head Brewer — each one trained in the same spirit of patience and precision that had guided Ian and Dick from the start. Awards followed, as did friendships across the brewing world, cementing Nethergate’s place as one of the region’s most respected names in real ale.

Those years were about more than growth — they were about finding our rhythm. The beer was flowing, the ideas were bold, and the future looked bright.

Losing & Finding Ourselves

Every brewery has a moment that tests what it stands for. For Nethergate, that moment came in the early 2010s. As our founders looked to retire, new investors arrived with big ambitions — and a new name. For a few years, Nethergate became Growler Brewery, a nod to our most famous beer, Old Growler.

The intention was right — to modernise, to grow, to reach new audiences — but somewhere along the way, we lost the thing that made us… us. Some beloved beers disappeared from the line-up, recipes changed, and what had once felt proudly Suffolk started to feel a little less familiar.

The world of beer was changing fast, and so were we — maybe too fast. By 2014, it was clear that something important had gone missing. That’s when Dick Burge returned, joined by a small band of believers determined to put the soul back into the brewery.

Together, they brought back the old name, the old recipes, and most importantly, the old spirit. The return of Nethergate Brewery wasn’t just a business move — it was a homecoming. Pints of Old Growler, Golden Gate and Suffolk County were back on the bar, tasting just as they should. And the community? They welcomed us like old friends. It was a reminder that good beer isn’t just about hops or malt — it’s about heart, personality and your followers!

Making Home In Long Melford

When Nethergate returned to local hands in 2014, it wasn’t just the name that came back — it was the soul. The lessons of the past had grounded us: grow, yes, but never lose sight of who you are. So as we began to rebuild, we did it with purpose — proud of our roots, but ready for the future.

The classics returned — Old Growler, Suffolk County, Golden Gate — brewed with the same patience and pride that defined them from the start. Under Head Brewer Ian Carson, the beer got better than ever: familiar, but sharper, more refined, and full of that unmistakable Nethergate balance.

By 2017, though, it was clear we’d once again outgrown our space. This time, we wanted to do things differently — thoughtfully, sustainably, and with our community at the centre. The result was our state-of-the-art brewery at Rodbridge Corner in Long Melford: a home built not just for brewing, but for belonging.

Spread across two acres beside the River Stour, it’s where old-school craft meets modern precision. Our new brewing kit gave us the freedom to expand our range — from our heritage ales to Venture, Stour Valley Gold, Nethergate Craft Lager, and Venture Point Five — all brewed with the same care that’s defined us since 1986.

But what truly transformed Nethergate was what happened outside the brewhouse. Our new site became a visitor destination — home to our Beer Café (taproom) and shop, spaces designed to bring people closer to the beers they love. Warm, welcoming, and full of character, our taproom quickly became the beating heart of the brewery — full at weekends with locals, visitors, and curious first-timers, all raising a glass together.

Outside, food vans roll up on weekends, live events fill the calendar, and tours run five days a week — giving people the chance to see behind the scenes of our brewery and distillery, and experience the craft firsthand. Next door, our shop stocks our full range alongside locally made produce, gifts, and spirits — a little slice of Suffolk hospitality that’s as much about conversation as it is about craft.

That sense of community gave us the confidence to grow again — this time, outwards. In late 2020, just before Christmas, we opened our Bury St Edmunds shop and taproom, marking our first step beyond Long Melford. Set in a beautiful 200-year-old building in the heart of the town, it’s become a second home for our beers, spirits, and customers — a space that’s helped spread the Nethergate story across Suffolk and beyond.

And we’re not stopping there. With growing interest and support across the region, we’re actively exploring new taproom and shop locations throughout East Anglia and beyond — new places to pour, to connect, and to welcome more people into the Nethergate fold.

Because for us, this has never just been about making great beer. It’s about creating places where people can share it — and feel part of something proudly, passionately, and local.

Who We Are Today

Nearly forty years on from that first chat in a Clare pub, Nethergate stands stronger than ever. What began as a 10-barrel dream between two school friends has grown into a proudly independent Suffolk brewery — still guided by the same passion, craft, and community spirit that started it all.

Today, we’re a close-knit team of brewers, distillers, and hosts — each one driven by a shared belief that great beer and good company go hand in hand. From our home in Long Melford (and our second taproom in Bury St Edmunds), we now deliver our beers and spirits to pubs, community stores, sports clubs, and venues across the East of England — keeping that connection between brewery and bar alive and personal.

Our members remain the beating heart of everything we do. Over 800 strong, they’re our extended family — the friendly faces who visit the Beer Café every weekend, lend ideas for new brews, and help shape what Nethergate becomes next. It’s their loyalty, laughter, and love of a proper pint that keep us doing what we do best.

We’re also proud to work hand in hand with the communities around us — supporting local events, charities, and independent businesses that share our values. Because while we might be growing, our roots are still firmly planted in Suffolk soil.

Where We're Headed

After a long wait (and more than a few pints of patience), we’ve finally been given the green light to expand our Long Melford home. It turns out dreams really do get planning permission.

In 2026, we’ll open the doors to a new chapter for Nethergate — a space designed not just to brew more beer, but to bring more people together. The plans include a larger taproom and shop, a new café, landscaped gardens and walks, electric superchargers, and even a children’s play area — all created to make our home a place for everyone to enjoy.

The new building takes inspiration from traditional Suffolk barns, combining craft and character in equal measure. Inside, there’ll be room to relax, browse, eat, drink, and connect — whether that’s a coffee in the morning, a family lunch in the café, or a pint of Old Growler on the terrace as the sun goes down.

Our goal is simple: to create a space that shows the best of Suffolk — warm, welcoming, and full of life. A home for locals and visitors alike; a destination that celebrates great beer, great food, and great company.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s supported us — through the planning process, through the years of growth, and ever since we first fired up the mash tun back in 1986. This next chapter is for you! We’ll be sharing updates regularly as the project unfolds — online, in the taproom, and, of course, over the bar (where all the best news is shared first).

To see what’s coming and follow the journey in more detail, visit our New Development Page — packed with images, updates, and ways to share your thoughts.