The Robert Cains brewery is something I’ve always wanted to visit - who wouldn’t want to look round this gorgeous building - but for some reason never really attempted. In fact I assumed it was on the urbex tourist trail and had probably been done many times before. Turns out this is only partly true - there have been two visits, by Speed and Clebby and The Man in Black, all with lovely pictures (apologies if there are other reports I’ve missed). There are plans to develop the place into a ‘brewery village’ with an event centre, museum, hotel etc. etc. and the building has changed a bit recently, with part of the ground floor occupied by traders stalls and building work starting in the ground floor halls.
Anyway, one afternoon on a visit to the builder’s merchants nearby I had a quick look, saw that it was open for business and came back with a torch and a borrowed camera. Glad that I did because it turned out to be rather good value.
I started in the cellars and ended up spending quite a lot time down there. Never having been in a brewery before I was surprised how extensive these were, room after room of gloomy dungeons and tunnels, but I suppose it makes sense that a big brewery will have big cellars. The pump and boreholes were unexpected, hiding behind something which may be a tank for the pumped water. Was briefly tempted to go down the ladder next to the pump rods, but it looked a tight squeeze and I was still in my work clothes and already filthy enough.
Pump with ladder just visible in the hole beside the pump rods - the other borehole is to the right.
On the left a view down the side of the water tank, on the right the entrance to more rooms.
Miscellaneous cellar stuff.
It was possible to get into the more recent plant next door but I didn’t linger here.
Up to check out the building work in one of the ground floor halls.
A room full of beer - sadly sell by date 2013.
I then went up through the various levels ending up at the tower, but not completely without incident. About 2/3rds the way up one of the staircases I noticed a little red light start to blink between the stair treads and thought oh dear…sure enough a couple of minutes later a security man came bustling up the stairs. I edged into the shadow of the next flight, stood still and was amazed when he walked right past without noticing. I’m guessing the silent alarm was for the small room nearby containing the electronics for the phone masts on the tower.
More pics of various things - while I took a lot of photos, I’ve included some which are different from previous reports.
This one through a window into the fermenting room.
If anyone wants to visit maybe do it sooner rather than later before development has gone too far.
Anyway, one afternoon on a visit to the builder’s merchants nearby I had a quick look, saw that it was open for business and came back with a torch and a borrowed camera. Glad that I did because it turned out to be rather good value.
I started in the cellars and ended up spending quite a lot time down there. Never having been in a brewery before I was surprised how extensive these were, room after room of gloomy dungeons and tunnels, but I suppose it makes sense that a big brewery will have big cellars. The pump and boreholes were unexpected, hiding behind something which may be a tank for the pumped water. Was briefly tempted to go down the ladder next to the pump rods, but it looked a tight squeeze and I was still in my work clothes and already filthy enough.
Pump with ladder just visible in the hole beside the pump rods - the other borehole is to the right.
On the left a view down the side of the water tank, on the right the entrance to more rooms.
Miscellaneous cellar stuff.
It was possible to get into the more recent plant next door but I didn’t linger here.
Up to check out the building work in one of the ground floor halls.
A room full of beer - sadly sell by date 2013.
I then went up through the various levels ending up at the tower, but not completely without incident. About 2/3rds the way up one of the staircases I noticed a little red light start to blink between the stair treads and thought oh dear…sure enough a couple of minutes later a security man came bustling up the stairs. I edged into the shadow of the next flight, stood still and was amazed when he walked right past without noticing. I’m guessing the silent alarm was for the small room nearby containing the electronics for the phone masts on the tower.
More pics of various things - while I took a lot of photos, I’ve included some which are different from previous reports.
This one through a window into the fermenting room.
If anyone wants to visit maybe do it sooner rather than later before development has gone too far.
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