Brewpoint in Bedford wins big for its stunning new build design

Brewpoint in Bedford has won the CAMRA Pub Design Awards’ ‘New Build’ category   

Bedford’s recently opened Brewpoint pub has been named joint winner in the New Build category in CAMRA’s highly acclaimed Pub Design Awards, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale, which assesses newly built pubs.  

Brewpoint, Bedford is the local brewers Wells & Co’s flagship new state-of-the art, multi-functional building at the gateway to the town. The principal architects BHB have created what appears to be an industrial building, reflecting one of its functions as a working brewhouse. The production side of the building is not hidden away, but proudly displayed.  

The building also contains the company’s offices, as well as catering very well for visiting customers, whether drinkers, diners, or those attending meetings or functions. Contrasting with the ‘industrial’ exterior, the light and airy interior, to the designs of Melling Ridgeway & Partners, offers a wide range of spaces on a couple of floors and the use of recycled metal and wood creates interest. Judges were particularly impressed by the extensive use of copper, a metal traditionally much used in brewing plant.   

Peter Wells, CEO of Wells & Co. said, “We’re utterly delighted to win this award. Launching in a lockdown is by no means an easy task but the support of our local community was incredible. I’m almost certain the main reason the public came to visit us so often was because of the eye-catching nature of our business. We’re grateful to our architects and building team who have helped to make such an impactful building and memorable place for our guests.”  

There was a total of six award winners and one highly commended pub across different categories, ranging from refurbishment to new build in this year’s awards. These include:  

• New Build: Brewpoint, Bedford & Crown Wharf, Stone, Staffordshire (joint winners)  
• Refurbishment: King’s Arms, Dorchester (winner), Bleeding Wolf, Cheshire (highly commended)  
• Historic England Conservation: Castle, Macclesfield and Coach & Horses, Barnburgh (joint winners)   
• Community Local: Boleyn Tavern, East Ham (winner)   

Andrew Davison, chair of CAMRA’s judging panel said: “Once again, the awards underline just how varied Britain’s pubs are, and we have had a hard job in selecting the winners from the entries submitted. Amongst the award winners we have new pubs, old pubs, urban pubs, rural pubs, elegant old inns, elaborate Victorian ‘gin palaces’, and inter-war pubs. There was a concern that pub owners would suspend work on their buildings during the pandemic, but quite a few seem to have taken the opportunity of enforced closure to plan and carry out repairs, restoration, and improvements.  

“What links them is that their owners and their architects have responded to them as individual buildings, rather than applying a standard formula – the result is a fantastically varied selection of winners. We applaud them all, and trust that these revitalised buildings will be serving their communities for many years to come.”   

CAMRA will be celebrating the achievement with a presentation event at one of the other winning pubs – the Boleyn Tavern in East Ham, London – on 26 July, which is open to the press. If you would like to attend, please contact press@camra.org.uk   

Images are available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/bua63r9o305ofai/AACJ8ueOFkWEsrSAHdQZWefwa?dl=0