A Staffordshire Moorlands brewery is preparing to open a new tasting room in Leek – and is toasting success after being asked to create two mayoral beers.
Wilsons of Warslow has taken on the former Staffordshire Wildlife Trust charity shop on Derby Street, where it plans to create what owner Lee Wilson-Hart describes as a “p-hub” – a pub with a silent ‘h’ that will serve as a community hub as well as a venue for locally produced drinks.
The plans are subject to change of use approval and a premises licence, but Mr Wilson-Hart hopes to welcome customers within the next three months.
The expansion follows the opening of the brewery’s bottle shop in Leek’s Butter Market, which has proved popular with local residents and visitors from across the country.
Lee, who took on The Greyhound pub in Warslow in 2019, told Daily Focus: “As much as we love traditional pubs, there are a lot of overheads there. I see a good future for micropubs with the charm of traditional pubs, and this will be a warm and welcoming place like The Greyhound. Hospitality will be key.”
Lee hopes to pay tribute to the building’s history with a display celebrating its past as once home to a Lotus shoe shop.
He is also hoping to open up a courtyard at the rear of the building, and describes discovering an original cellar beneath the carpet of the property as “the icing on the cake”.
Alongside the expansion plans, Wilsons of Warslow is brewing official beers for the Mayor of Leek, Councillor Lyn Swindlehurst, and the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Jonathan Smale.
Lee added: “When we first opened the bottle shop in Leek’s Butter Market, the mayor was very supportive and said she had to have a mayoral beer. I was taken aback. It’s quite an honour to be asked.”
The Leek beer will be brewed in a traditional amber bitter style, reflecting Staffordshire’s brewing heritage, while Derby’s mayor has chosen a more modern India Pale Ale.
Test batches are now under way, with around 500 bottles being produced for the Mayor of Leek and between 500 and 800 for Derby. The bottles will be presented to civic delegates throughout the mayoral year.
Lee believes they could be among the first official mayoral beers produced in the two cities for many years.
- The brewery is also preparing to launch a boxed collection of Leek-themed beers later this summer. The range will feature names inspired by local landmarks and traditions, including Big Mill, The Magic Roundabout and Club Day IPA, and will be available from the Butter Market bottle shop.
