Shropshire brewery Joule's launches nine-pub expansion
The biggest brewery in Shropshire has launched the start of its £1 million investment and expansion scheme.
Joule's Brewery, based in Market Drayton, has bought the first of nine pubs it plans to open in the coming year.
Bosses have bought The Talbot Country Inn, in Ruyton XI Towns, near Oswestry.
Under the million pound plans the brew house, at the Red Lion pub in Great Hales Street, will also double in size.
About £150,000 of the money will be invested at the site to create a 50sq metre beer store, a new loading bay for bigger trucks and improvements to the car park.
A planning application for the expansion has been submitted to Shropshire Council.
Following today's announcement about the sale of the first pub to Joule's, director of the brewery Steve Nuttall said it was just the kind of investment they are looking for.
He said: "Investing in the community and becoming part of village life is key to our pub portfolio. People want the simple things in life – really good beer, good food and really stripped back and uncomplicated interiors in lovely historical buildings."
The brewery now has more than 17 tap houses across Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire.
When the expansion plans were first announced in January Mr Nutall said all nine new pubs will open within a 40 minute drive of Market Drayton.
The Talbot Country Inn is due to change to the Joule's name on April 4 .
