Re-visiting Stroud Brewery
Lessons in life, and design, are best learnt when enjoying a pint. At least, that’s what the team agreed when we got to embark on a long-overdue project visit to Stroud Brewery at the beginning of May. Austin Design Works helped Stroud Brewery gain planning permission for their new home way back in 2017 and thought it was about time to see how the building measures up to our original designs.
You can’t help but feel uplifted by Stroud Brewery’s history, and Greg Pilley, the managing director and founder from 2006, talks passionately about the community of beer lovers who have supported the business right from the start. From humble beginnings in a small industrial unit to the thriving community asset which buzzes with activity, the journey is inspirational. Not only does the site produce and sell beer, but provides community-focused events spaces and a programme of activities; a toddlers group is wrapping up as we arrive, we interrupt a lively band practice as we tour the building, and the Paint and Sip event advertised on the notice board catches our eye! Greg assures us that this offering has helped the business weather the tough times of the pandemic, with a huge variety of people using the building for different reasons.
Whilst hearing about the beer-making process is fascinating, as well as the tweaks to the built fabric that are planned (the main lesson learnt: you can never have enough storage. Never.), our most in-depth discussions revolve around the Brewery becoming a BCorp, which is something Austin Design Works aspire to achieve. It’s really important to us that we are doing the best for not just our clients, but our employees, community and the planet too. Our suspicions were confirmed by Greg that the journey to achieving BCorp status will be full of challenging reflection, but hugely rewarding in terms of lessons to be learnt, so we can’t wait to forge ahead with this, newly inspired by Stroud Brewery’s example.
And finally, in our opinion, the success of a building is not measured by the crispness of chosen materials or grounded sense of place felt in the canal-side terrace, although these are both excellent features. The success is in the vibrant flow of people visiting every day, the amazing employment opportunities offered by creating enough space to allow the business to thrive, and the feel of contentment as you enjoy a perfectly crafted pint in the welcoming taproom.
