First year flows with success
THIS week Torbay’s only brewery — Bays Brewery — is celebrating its first year anniversary.
Mark, Will and Pete have been quick to thank their clients and drinkers for the tremendous support they have received.
Mark said: “Without this support Bays would never have been able to celebrate such a successful first year — we have all thoroughly enjoyed the last 12 months and are confident that Bays now has an exciting future ahead.”
It all began back in March 2007 when family members Will Freeland, Mark Salmon and Peter Salmon joined forces and signed a lease on an old 5,000 square foot steel fabrication unit in Aspen Way, Paignton.
The transformation began towards the end of March and by the end of June, after some considerable construction and installation works, the team were able to run their first brew through their 20 barrel brew plant.
The first two brews, Best and Gold, were successfully launched into local pubs simultaneously in the first week of July, and Torbay at last had it’s own beer, something that had been missing for well over 80 years.
Due to public demand Bays Brewery opened its brewery shop in September 2007 where it sells it’s beer in bottles, party nines and polypins. It also sells gift sets, clothing and a variety of other Bays-branded merchandise.
Peter Salmon said: “The shop has been extremely well received. We get a mix of both locals and tourists alike visiting us. When possible we like to give our customers a quick tour of the brewery and a run down of how the beer is made.”
A highlight of the year was when Bays Best was served at the world famous Strangers’ Bar in the House of Commons. This was a rare privilege not many breweries achieve. Mark, Will and Pete were invited up to London by local MP Adrian Sanders for a tour of Parliament.
At the time Mr Sanders said: “I am delighted that a Paignton pint is available for all in Westminster to enjoy. Bays Brewery is a company the whole Bay should be proud of.”
In order to celebrate Torquay United reaching the play-offs and the final of the cup, Bays Brewery produced a one off beer, aptly named ‘Gull Ale’.
The brewery donated thirty pence for every pint that was sold to the Torquay United Supporters Trust eventually raising a total of almost £200. All of the money generated from the project went straight into providing improved facilities for both the disabled and wheelchair-bound supporters at Plainmoor.
Throughout the year Bays Brewery have won a series of awards. Perhaps the most memorable achievement to date came in June of this year when Bays Brewery was awarded Best New Business and Best Overall Business at the 2008 Annual Federation of Small Businesses Awards.
When giving out the awards, Sally Wilcox, South West Regional Director of BT, told the audience: “Bays Brewery have put innovation into their product and achieved success in a very competitive market, competing with some of the cheap products in supermarkets.”
On top of this, the brewery has also been fortunate to receive high accolades and gain recognition for their beers.
In September 2007 Bays Best was voted ‘Best Bitter in Show’ at the annual Tamworth Beer Festival. As a consequence the brewery soon found that there was a strong demand for their beer on a national scale.
Peter Salmon said: “Such award wins provide us with a platform to spread the brand on a national scale. As a consequence we have noticed that the Bays brand, which is heavily focused around the Torbay theme, is being well received in pubs as far away as Liverpool and London.”
Further award success came in March 2008 when Bays Brewery scooped two major awards at the annual SIBA awards ceremony, held at Tuckers Maltings. They beat off a host of well-established breweries from around the West Country, which is no mean achievement considering the festival featured well over 270 beers.
On a more local scale Bays Gold recently won the beer of the year at the Summer Moon Festival held at Kingskerswell.
Will Freeland said: “To have all three of our beers winning awards within 12 months is fantastic. My priority is to continue brewing ales that are of a consistently high standard and that our drinkers can enjoy. As long as the drinkers are happy, I am happy.”
The brewery’s aim for the foreseeable future is to continue with their mission of providing first class, premium beers for their drinkers to enjoy.
Mark Salmon said: “It goes without saying that we are very grateful for the continued support of all our clients and of course our loyal drinkers without whom we would not have a business. Our plan is to develop the Bays brand alongside the Torbay brand and use this to become recognised as the beer of Devon.”
Feel free to contact Bays Brewery by telephone on 01803 555004, or email info@baysbrewery.co.uk
Alternatively you can visit their website at www.baysbrewery.co.uk