Couple's West Acre brewery plans for expansion following crowd fund

A brewery in West Acre has plans for expansion thanks to an equity-based crowd fund.

Duration Brewery is owned by husband and wife team Derek Bates and Miranda Hudson, originally from London.

Based in Abbey Farm on River Road in the West Norfolk village, they set up the business towards the end of 2019 with a year-long build converting a stone barn into a majestic brewhouse.

Miranda said: “No-one loves beer more than Norfolk given the number of pubs here.

“We opened as a team of three and now employ nine staff.

“The crowd fund was amazing with a lot of support locally.

“People could get involved with as little as a fiver up to tens of thousands of pounds,

“We had 600 investors and loyal drinkers and we have a lot to consider.

“Working in hospitality, it is important we are generating a community feeling.”

The site provides tap days with street food and bar snacks and serves a range of its own beers, local gin and wine, with plans to expand a taproom with a restaurant and further seating by 2024.

Miranda said: “During lockdown we operated as an essential shop and farmer’s market.

“The pandemic, although it was challenging, proved a lot of local interest.

“We have had hundreds flocking in at the weekends for something different.

“The crowd fund will help a big part of the project in supporting expanded production and the need to expand the water treatment plant.”

The brewery works in collaboration with suppliers and local pubs, delivering its beers to The Stag in West Acre which has recently re-opened.

The couple also supply to Sculthorpe Mill, Brisley Bell, George and Dragon and the Dabbling Duck.

Miranda said: “We supply our Turtles All The Way Down beer to local pubs where customers can try it on tap.

“We are really fortunate that we were awarded a double grant to sell barrel-aged beers using a wild culture from Norfolk that you would not get anywhere else.

“People from Norfolk do like supporting Norfolk people.

“We wanted to make a farmhouse brewery a beautiful destination in West Norfolk.”