Bristol Beer Factory to open ‘proper pub’ on harbourside

The award-winning Bristol Beer Factory will open a new bar at Cargo in Wapping Wharf.

The Ashton-based brewery will open Junction in the unit previously occupied by Wild Beer.

Bristol Beer Factory has been pioneering innovative craft beer for almost 20 years in the heart of South Bristol and have gained a reputation as one of the city’s original craft beer institutions.

They’ll now be taking on one of the largest units at Wapping Wharf, to bring a taste of classic British pub culture to Bristol’s much-loved independent harbourside quarter.

The Junction name is a nod to the historical Bristol Harbour Railway, with the venue’s location forming the junction between Wapping Wharf and the Harbour.

The space had previously been occupied by Wild Beer, which had been running their tap room there since Wapping Wharf first opened in 2016.

The business went into administration and the venue was closed earlier this year, with a huge amount of applications for the site from businesses from across Bristol and beyond.

The team at Wapping Wharf have selected Bristol Beer Factory to bring a slice of ‘proper pub’ culture to the space, which has always previously been a real hub of the Wapping Wharf area.

Speaking about their plans for Junction, Managing Director of Bristol Beer Factory, Sam Burrows, said: “Wapping Wharf is such an iconic area of Bristol, and we’re thrilled to be joining what is without a doubt the most vibrant community of independent retailers in the city.

“We’re aiming to create a destination for everyone, from those popping by for lunch, an after-work beer, or somewhere to enjoy a drink by the harbourside, with a range of not only our own locally brewed beers, lagers and ciders, but also of other locally made Bristol drinks.

“Food wise, we’re working with Josh Eggleton to create a simple yet delicious selection of classic pub-grub dishes, ideal for snacking on as well as offering more substantial classic seasonal dishes, and we can’t wait to join the community down at Wapping Wharf.”

Speaking about the newest addition to the Wapping Wharf community, Stuart Hatton, managing director at Umberslade said: “It was undeniably sad to say goodbye to Wild Beer after six years at Wapping Wharf, but we’re extremely excited to bring a new lease of life to this space, which has historically always been part of the heart of Wapping Wharf.

“In line with our ethos of working with local, independent businesses, we were keen to not only bring a Bristol business into the space, but also to bring in a business who can provide a central hub to Wapping Wharf, and we knew that Bristol Beer Factory were the perfect fit.”

Work has now begun at the premises, with the venue due to open later on in the Spring.