Independent brewer Sambrook’s has pulled its first pint at Ram Quarter, Greenland’s redevelopment of the former home of Young’s which has transformed the heart of Wandsworth town.
Sambrook’s move marks a major milestone for Wandsworth and Ram Quarter as commercial brewing returns to the heart of the ‘brewing borough’.
Relocating from its previous headquarters in Battersea, Sambrook’s is launching a new brewhouse and bottle shop at the development. Alongside its state-of-the-art brewing facilities, Sambrook’s is also opening a heritage centre that will show the area’s unique history. A taproom will follow in the summer with space for events.
Ram Quarter is Britain’s oldest continuously working brewery. Beermaking has taken place there without stopping since at least the 1530s, including throughout both world wars. It was feared that this unbroken tradition might be lost when Young’s sold the site for redevelopment in 2006. Greenland worked with former Young’s employee John Hatch to keep a nanobrewery going on site during construction, with the aspiration of finding a new commercial brewery which could safeguard the site’s legacy in the long term. John has now joined Sambrook’s.
The first brew made on site by Sambrook’s is its original ‘Wandle Ale’, named after the River Wandle which runs through Ram Quarter.
Taotao Song, CEO of Greenland (UK), said: “From the start of our redevelopment we knew the importance of protecting and celebrating Ram Quarter’s unique brewing legacy. It is a challenging time for the hospitality and retail sector, and especially for independent brands, but we saw the value that Sambrook’s unique offer can bring to Ram Quarter. We’re delighted to be supporting Sambrook’s as part of our work to create a new destination in Wandsworth. Raise a pint to Sambrook’s – and this next step for Ram Quarter and for Wandsworth!”
Greenland’s transformation of Ram Quarter is reshaping Wandsworth’s town centre – giving residents and visitors a chance to go beyond the former brewery walls for the first time in many years. Alongside Sambrook’s, the development is now home to a number of independent leisure and lifestyle brands. It was announced last year that Strike bowling, Mai Thai Deli, Schooner bar, and The Dapper Fox barber will be coming to Ram Quarter, joining Backyard Cinema, fine dining restaurant London Stock, Story Coffee, MoreYoga and Kïdo School.
Greenland plans to develop more than 700 new homes on site, half of which are already delivered – including the multi award-winning restored loft apartments within the Grade-II listed brewery buildings.