Brewery's £1million makeover
World Champion cask-ale brewer Moorhouse's has unveiled its £1m vision for the future of its Lancashire brewery.
The investment will allow production capacity and employment to double and also see the opening of a visitor centre with bars and cafe and a training 'centre of excellence' for publicans and bar staff.
The current brew-house produces nearly 300 barrels-a-week - with 14 fermenting vessels - but is too small to allow further production.
Moorhouse's plan, which will create about 35 new jobs, includes extending over two terraced streets behind the current brewey, the streets have been compulsory purchased for development by Burnley Borough Council.
David Grant said: "If the council will allow us this land for our expansion we will be able to keep the brewery in Burnley adjacent to the site founded by William Moorhouse 141 years ago.
"This is what we really want to do, rather than be forced to move elsewhere. However, we are outgrowing ourselves.
"Our training centre would be an investment in the future of cask beer for the industry.
"We are now in negotiation with Burnley Council and would like to see the development getting the go- ahead very soon, so we can start work next year. We have earmarked finance and the funding is in place."
Moorhouse's has seen 175% growth in cask beer the past five years Grant added: "We have seen a 175 per cent growth over five years in a market that the pundits frequently say is in decline."
Moorhouse's won Camra's Supreme Champion Beer of Britain Award 2000 for Black Cat and the Brewing Industry International Awards' 'Champion Cask-Conditioned Ale' 2004 title for Pride of Pendle.
