The Publican's Morning Advertiser's sister title M&C Report flagged up the group’s intentions back in August after Bruce said the group would outgrow its current site in Yattendon in the next two years due to rising demand for its award-winning beers beyond its Thames Valley heartland.
Funds will also be used to secure the group’s first freehold pub to show off its beers, a move Bruce had previously ruled out earlier this year after the company closed the Rising Sun, near Newbury.
The new brewery will also have a brewery shop and its own bottling, canning and kegging lines. Bruce previously said that about £1m would be set aside as working capital for sales and marketing.
Bruce said he wanted to create a “cracking American-style microbrewery”.
Board changes
The launch of the new fundraising coincides with Bruce’s partner from both the City and Capital pub companies, Clive Watson, and former Fuller’s national account controller, Simon Robertson-Macleod joining the board.
Bruce said: “We are delighted to announce our plans for the next stage in the development of the West Berkshire Brewery business. We are very excited for what 2015 will behold. We have great ambitions for the brewery, as well as for our fantastic portfolio of brands, and are ready to take our high-quality range of British-brewed premium beers to a larger audience than ever before.”
The group’s expansion plans follow a rebranding of its entire beer range, which so far this year has won seven awards.
The EIS succeeds last year’s fundraising venture, when the company raised £1.23m through offering family, friends and beer aficionados the opportunity to become shareholders.