Six friends have pooled resources to open a craft ale shop in the heart of Keswick.
Craft Beer Keswick offers a diverse range of beers from across the UK.
Operating primarily as a shop, there is also draught available with seating indoors and out for customers to enjoy a drink on-site.
The venture is the brainchild of Mark Swider, Adam Slaughter, Steve Stables, Zara Barua, Leon Finn and Lindon Bolton, 39, who has taken on the role of general manager.
“I’m so excited to get going,” he said. “The idea has been floating around for a while so when I was asked to be the general manager, I grabbed the chance with both hands.
““We’ve seen lots of similar places proving really popular in city centres across the UK and thought there was nowhere like it in Keswick so got in first.
“I hope we can get people to branch out and try something different and set up a community of beer lovers in town.
“To be honest I couldn’t have asked for a better start, the first weekend was really encouraging, we were really busy the whole time.”
The range of beers is vast. Stocking everything from double dry IPAs to sour beers, Lindon showed off a 9.5 per cent strawberry, hibiscus and vanilla beer with golden glitter floating in it.
Local beers have proved a runaway hit with punters and what was stocked run out in the first few days.
The team is looking into getting more regular deliveries from a range of breweries in Cumbria.
Positioned in Keswick’s Packhorse Court, the business has benefited from passing footfall with tourists enjoying some refreshment in the sun.
On draught they will keep Helles Lager, made by the south Cumbrian Fell Brewery, and rotate a second option.
The owners all have backgrounds in hospitality or retail – Steve also owns neighbouring Bar Es – and all love beer.
Their aim is to establish a craft ale scene in the town and have set up a rolling beer of the week.
