BrewDog on track to launch brew-your-own beer concept in London
Manchester law firm Kuits has obtained a license for the Scottish group to develop its former Punk Kitchen site in Islington in to a bar, food, retail and ‘educational’ facility under its Hopworks brand.
The site originally opened as BrewDog’s first hotdog concept Dog Eat Dog in March 2016, but it closed after less than five months. It relaunched as Punk Kitchen, a home for rotating pop-ups, later that year but shut after just two months blaming ‘tricky license restrictions’.
Under the Hopworks brand the site will install home brew kits to teach customers about brewing, and run classes covering all aspects of beer making.
A retail unit will sell home brew ingredients and a selection of local and rare beers from around the world, and the site will also host events showcasing local brewers.
The Hopworks bar will feature a menu of stone baked pizzas made using brewers’ yeast.
Kuits says it obtained the license despite opposition from people in the local area.
“This is a truly exceptional grant for BrewDog bringing together key elements of their unique educational Hopworks brewing experience - an off licence, a bar and food,” says Anthony Lyons, head of licensing at Kuits.
“Although the premises is located in one of Islington’s Cumulative Impact Zones and faced fierce opposition from local objectors, I believe the Licensing Committee were persuaded Hopworks is both interesting and different and as such fits with their Statement of Licensing Policy.”
BrewDog first announced the Hopworks concept in 2016 with an opening planned for Dalston, but the site later fell through.
A Hopworks is set to launch in a series of repurposed shipping containers in Glasgow later this year. It is not currently clear when the Islington site will open.
BigHospitality has contacted BrewDog for further comment.
