Blue Anchor micro brewery to open at Water Ma Trout with tours

Simon and Kim Stone, landlords of the Blue Anchor, which is famed for its Spingo ales, have been given planning permission to expand into a purpose-built new brewery on currently empty land adjacent to Jewsons at Trenethick Business Park on Water-Ma-Trout Industrial Estate.

To date the beer has been brewed at the pub in Coinagehall Street, but expanding into a new two-storey building would allow the business to grow, it said.

While mainly a microbrewery and bottling plant, details with the planning application state that the business also hopes to offer tours and tasting sessions.

Planning agents Situ8 Planning Consultancy states: "The applicant intends to deliver bottled beer in and out of county and the proposed business will support local public houses, and other businesses including shops, bars and restaurants.

"The applicant confirms that the application is made on the basis of the buoyancy of the food/drink/hospitality and leisure industry both nationally and locally. Further, he has at the current time (pandemic-post pandemic) confidence in this business sector and is content to invest locally."

The landlords of the Blue Anchor can expand their brewery

The application states that the brewery would employ up to seven full time members of staff, on a Monday to Friday basis, 7am to 6pm, although not all would be on site at all times.

Deliveries would be twice a week, where vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes would deliver out-of-county. Smaller vans would deliver to the local customers, for which there would be four brews a week.

Concern had been raised by some members of the public during the consultation over the parking arrangements, fearing that any overspill could impact on neighbouring businesses.

However, when granting planning permission the Cornwall Council officer said that proposed space for 11 vehicles, including staff and any visitors, was sufficient.

"The site is predominately a brewery first with the majority of its business coming from the brewing, such that the onsite shop and tours form an incidental part of the business," added the officer.

They went on to add: "This is not proposed to be a public house but offer specialised tours that have to be booked."

Cornwall Council's public protection team for noise and odour offered no objections and Helston Town Council recommended approval while stating: "[We] recommend that it is ensured that an appropriate odour control process is in place. The town council would also encourage the applicants to consider the use of solar panels and sustainable materials in the build and to consider increasing the biodiversity of the site as part of screening.”

The plans have been given approval with certain conditions, including that the parking and turning areas are built before any part of the development is used, and that before the viewing terrace can be used a privacy screen must be put up with obscured glazing, to protect residents at Gwarth An Drae.