Expand Our Bar & Launch Brackley’s Nano Brewery

Aim: Help expand our independent craft beer bar and launch Brackley’s first brewery in 66 years.

From Four Taps To A Town‑Sized Dream

If you wandered down Brackley High Street on 1 July 2023, you’d have spotted two sleep-deprived humans finishing last-minute touches to a bar they weren’t sure anyone would visit. The blinds were half-rolled, the loo had just been fixed, and the kettle was working overtime to keep everyone upright. We had four taps, 13 seats, room for 10 to lean, and just a handful of beers chilling in the fridge. No fanfare, no budget, just hope, elbow grease, and a stubborn love for great beer.

But Brackley turned up. And not just once. Over the last two years, you’ve turned our little hand-built bar into something truly special. You didn’t just come for a pint, you came to connect. You brought friends, celebrated milestones, made memories, and supported us every step of the way. In doing so, you transformed this tiny space into the town’s unofficial living room, a place where conversations happen, strangers become mates, and the taplist is always worth a look. It’s become bigger than beer. It’s community in a glass.

Since that first weekend:

• We’ve doubled our draught lines to eight taps.
• We now stock 100+ cans and bottles from small UK breweries, as well as a rotating selection of European and American craft beers that are rarely found outside specialist shops or festivals.
• We’ve grown to 19 indoor seats, 10 lean-to standers, and 18 outdoor seats.
• We’ve reinvested every penny back into the bar: more taps, comfier seating, better fridges, events, games, new sound system, and possibly the UK’s tallest urinal. And we’re not done yet.

The Pint Glass Is Full, But The Room Isn’t

The love we’ve had from Brackley is humbling but we’re hitting the limits of our space. On weekends, you still peer in through the steamed-up glass and walk away when there’s no room. And we don’t want anyone to feel left out.

You’ve told us you want:

• Room to breathe and enjoy your pint without guarding your table.
• Shelter from the sideways rain and somewhere warm for your nan.
• A space big enough for quiz nights, tasting sessions, parties, and cosy catch-ups on rainy days.
• And maybe even cheaper pints, if we can bring some brewing in-house.

We’ve listened. After months of planning (and a few pub napkins), we’ve built a three-phase plan to future-proof the bar, secure local brewing for Brackley, and meet demand over the next three years.

Phase 1 - Doubling the Space (⚒️ Already Underway!)

We’ve taken over the empty unit next door, and the wall’s already down in time for our 2nd birthday celebrations. Once the dust settles, we’ll have space for:

• 44 seats and 20 standing inside
• 36 seats and 20 standing outside
• More events, no more queueing in the cold.

Target: £7500 · Completion: July 2025

Phase 2 - A Fresh Face & New Name

Our exterior needs some love. We’ll install eco-efficient windows, add awnings, fix lighting, hang signage, raise a new flagpole, and roll out our new name: 20 Arches, inspired by the lost viaduct that once spanned the Ouse Valley. We’ve also accounted for all the essential behind-the-scenes work, legal costs, planning submissions, and design fees to ensure everything’s above board, beautifully executed, and built to last.

A name rooted in Brackley history, a fresh look, same spirit.

Target: £15000 · Completion: November 2025

Phase 3 - Brackley Brews Again

We’re bringing brewing back to Brackley for the first time in 66 years, reviving a proud local tradition that ended when Blencowe & Co. closed in 1925 and Hopcraft & Norris closing in 1959. With an initial 1 BBL electric brewhouse installed just behind the building , we'll begin by brewing two flagship hazy beers, a 4.5 % pale and an IPA, right here in Brackley. These fresh, locally brewed pints will be served just metres from where they’re made, initially supplying our bar and, once stable and if demand allows, expanding into local bars and bottle shops. The setup is designed to grow with us over time. We’ve also accounted for legal, planning, and design costs to ensure the brewery is fully compliant, sustainable, and future-ready.

• Launch two flagship hazy beers (4.5 % pale + IPA)
• Delivery in an electric van
• Supply the freshest pints metres from where they’re brewed

Target: £13500 · Completion: Early 2026

What’s Already in the Barrel

✅ Unit  2 build-out already in progress

✅ Premises licence extension secured

✅ Brewery space and kit specced and costed

✅ Planning apps drafted for brewery and façade

✅ New logo, colours, and merch finished

✅ Carbon savings calculated: in-house brewing + electric van = 34 % lower keg-miles, pints brewed for ~£5

Rewards: Your Name In The Story

Backers get everything from pin badges and merch to co-creating a beer or hiring our events room. Every tier includes your name on our Founders’ Wall and website.

Become a Community Lender*

Want to make a bigger impact, and earn a return? Join us as a Community Lender:Full T&Cs in bar or via our Q&A session which you can book on HERE

*Community Lender T&C's

• Community lender cannot be purchased through Crowdfunder website. Please speak to Tom or Steph in the bar for more details or or book via our Q&A session which you can book on HERE
• Loan is unsecured and not covered by FSCS.
• Must be UK resident, age 18+.
• Early-repayment option: if our revenue booms, we may clear your loan sooner—you still keep all accrued interest.
• As with any loan, there’s a risk—read the agreement carefully and consider independent advice.
• Simple loan note (from £2000+)
• 5 % APR, paid quarterly for 3 years (interest + principal)
• VIP perks included: Your name on the Wall & website, permanent 10 % off draught via VIP keyring & digital card, VIP T-shirt & patch, + launch-event invite (£50 tab included) and we'll also keep you updated on the expansion and the brewery.

Why This Matters Beyond The Bar

The bar we’ve built isn’t just about beer, it’s about Brackley. What began as a tiny room with four taps has become a hub for connection, community, and conversation. And with your help, it’s about to become something even more meaningful.

• A Bigger Living Room - We've watched people walk in as strangers and leave as friends. This space has become more than a bar, it's a second home for many. By doubling our capacity and expanding our events offering, we’ll create a more inclusive space for everyone who wants to be a part of it.
• New Jobs & Skills - From bar shifts to brewery roles, we're building real opportunities right here in town. Local brewing means local jobs and new chances to learn, grow, and thrive in an industry driven by passion.
• Bringing Back Brackley’s Brewing Legacy - The last pints brewed in Brackley came from Blencowe & Co in 1925, and Hopcroft & Norris back in 1959. With your help, we’re bringing that heritage back to life with modern kit, fresh recipes, and a setup designed to grow with demand, starting with our bar, but eventually expanding to local venues and shops too.
• Greener Pints, Lower Prices - Brewing in-house and delivering by electric van cuts transport emissions by 34 %. It also lets us bring prices down. Less lorry miles, no middle guy = more £5 pints.
• Proper Planning & Compliance - Every step of this plan has been thought through with care. We’ve budgeted for the unglamorous but essential stuff, like legal advice, planning permissions, and design fees, so the foundations of this next chapter are rock solid.

When you back this campaign, you’re helping us do more than build a brewery you’re helping us build a better future for Brackley. One where local means something, and where everyone’s always welcome to pull up a stool and raise a glass.

How You Can Help

Chip In - Even a tenner helps. Every contribution moves us closer to launching Brackley’s first brewery in more than half a century.

Share the Link - Post it in your local WhatsApp groups, tag your mates who love great beer, and help us spread the word beyond Brackley. Every share brings in new supporters who want to be part of something grassroots and meaningful.

Pop In -  Say hello, see the changes, and tell us what beer you want to see brewed first. Your feedback shapes what’s poured and what’s next.

If we hit our target, Brackley gets:

• More seats, more pints, fewer queues.
• A façade that reflects what’s happening inside.
• The town’s first locally brewed beer since 1959.

Click “Back this project” and claim your corner of the bar. We’re saving you a seat. We promise. 🍻

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 8th September 2025 at 9:43pm