A new craft beer bottle shop and tap room is set to open in the former home of the Rude Shipyard café, on Abbeydale Road, this summer.
The Bear, which pleasingly is an acronym for Beer Emporium Abbeydale Road, will hopefully be open by the end of the month and will feature three double fridges stacked full of exciting and unusual beers for all budgets, styles and strength preferences (there’s even a couple of 15 per cent-ers in there).
The venue will also feature shelves full of stouts and porters, spirits and wines, and six keg lines, if you fancy sitting in for a draught tipple while you’re picking out some takeout.
The Bear bottle shop and bar is set to open soon in the former home of Rude Shipyard cafe
Owner Matt Beety tells us they will also be focusing on a good vegan and gluten free offering and a low and no alcohol range, as well as tying to use breweries that have a focus on sustainability.
“I just think it’s good to have that broad range,” says Matt, “Firstly, I think it’s really important to sell good local produce and we’ve got a couple of cracking neighbours in Abbeydale and Triple Point, which I think are great. There’s Saint Mars as well, who are absolutely amazing and really popular.”
“It’s about a good accessible offer, and a couple of places that I’ve spoken to I’m really keen on because of what they’re doing in terms of sustainability and greenness. I think, again, that’s another really important thing for the area and I think it’s good that you’ve got something in the fridge that you feel comfortable buying.”
“Price point is really important as well, because I know myself, some days you can’t afford to go out and spend £7 on a can and some days you want to treat yourself. If we can have a few cans around the £3 mar it gives people a chance to try different things out and perhaps get a bit more for their money.”
Based on Matt’s passion for, and knowledge of all things beer, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’d been in the industry for decades, working in shops and bars, but, aside from a stint at The Old House many years ago, that’s not the case.
Matt explains: “It’s come out of nowhere, in a way. I worked in education for 20 years and I came out of it towards the end of last year, so it’s definitely a bit of a big step for me.
“I’m lucky that I’ve got a sister who’s been working in the beer industry for 20 years, and runs pubs in London, opening up really popular places – she knows what she’s doing. She’s also got some good brewery links and I’ve been able to talk to some of her friends and breweries that perhaps aren’t on the doorstep, that people might not know around here.
“Beer’s always been a hobby and obviously it’s a passion. I got into the scene through my sister but then just got into going out and trying everything really.
“It has been something I’ve thought about doing for a number of years, but I’ve always been in a comfy job, plodding along. I actually found this place before I left my job, and put an offer in, but didn’t get it. A few months later I got a call saying it was available again, and my job situation changed, so if you believe in fate and all that, it was meant to be, so I jumped at it.
“There’s just some nervous excitement now. Like I say, it’s a big plunge and I really don’t know what to expect. I don’t think I know what I don’t know yet, so I’m probably in for a few shocks, but I’m really excited.”
The Bear is hoping to be open by the end of the month and you can follow their progress and updates on their socials here.
