Plan to reopen old brewery on college site

12:14pm Thursday 10th April 2008

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A BREWERY dating back to the 18th Century will start producing beer again if plans go ahead.

The Meantime Brewing Company, based in Penhall Road, Charlton, has struck a deal with charity the Greenwich Foundation to excavate, renovate and restart brewing at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

There was a brewery at the college site from 1717 until around 1860.

It mainly provided beer for retired and injured seafarers at the old Royal Hospital.

Currently, all that remains of the three-storey building, built in 1831, is a one-storey block with a series of vaults below and a well around 200ft deep.

The foundation sent a planning application to Greenwich Council on January 17 and a decision by planning officers is due shortly.

When it is finished, the brewery will form part of the college's £5m Discover Greenwich visitor centre project being set up by the foundation, which looks after the college grounds.

It will form the centrepiece of a brasserie and bar and have its own exhibition charting the history of brewing in London and Greenwich.

The brewery also plans to produce a London porter which will replicate the beer produced there in the early 18th Century.

Meantime brewmaster Alastair Hook said: "The pubs and breweries in our capital were once the envy of the world and in terms of commercial, industrial and social importance their impact was immense.

"The brewery exhibit and Meantime brewhouse, along with the cellars and bar, will do everything possible to recapture and present the visitor with the full glory of this fascinating age."