First look at Wadworth's proposed new brewery in Devizes

After brewing for 135 years at its iconic Northgate building in the centre of town the family-run beer-maker is planning to move to a new complex off London Road.

The site is the former Selectabook building in Folly Road. And if planning permission is granted for the move, the first barrels of 6X could be coming out of the new brewery by the middle of 2023.

Wadworth intends to make the move because it says the Northgate brewery is too large and unsuitable for the brewer’s need to modernise and adapt to suit the new tastes in beer-drinking, like the growth in the popularity of niche beers and the boom in American-style IPAs.

A spokeswoman said: “The existing 1885 Wadworth Brewery is a Grade II-listed building and much of Wadworth’s plant, equipment and main brewery building is coming to the end of its useful life.

“The beer market has changed and the current brewery is too big, inefficient and inflexible for Wadworth’s needs.”

She added: “Wadworth is seeking to relocate its existing Northgate brewery facility to a site where it can operate a modern brewery operation, allowing it to diversify its beer offer and in turn, support its pubs much more effectively.

“Ultimately, Wadworth needs to relocate and values the importance of remaining in the town and retaining employment in the local area.”

But the company revealed it will not be making as much beer as before. Although its core ales – 6X, Henry’s IPA and Horizon – remain popular, the brewer wants to produce many more varieties.

“Wadworth won’t brew the same capacity in our new brewery as we have in the past at the existing brewery,” said the spokeswoman.

“There will be scope to flex up the volume if there is the demand and the new brewery gives Wadworth much more flexibility to produce new and interesting brews.”

Wadworth is opening the new brewery plans for public consultation on a website, seeking locals’ views on the move.

The consultation website is at selectabookpublicconsultation.co.uk.

If planning permission is granted, Wadworth hopes for building works to be finished by mid-2023.