AB InBev to open first food-led managed pub in London

The Vintage Ale House, in Balham, south London, will open its doors to the public on Friday 16 December.

The move comes under a wider project to open another venue in the capital and in Belgium next year.

The Vintage Ale House will offer US craft beers and a menu designed to match specific ales made from fermented yeast.

New opportunities   ​

GI head of brand experience for Europe Toby Cowan told The Morning Advertiser​: “We’re taking all the great stuff that goes on in Chicago and interpreting it in a way that works for Balham.

“We will be introducing a new style of beer that drinkers may not be familiar with.”

He added: "We want to work with the community in Balham, which we’re very proud of, and to use local suppliers.

“We want the brand to live and breathe just as it does in the US." 

‘Eye on the Future’​

GI founder John Hall said: “The Vintage Ale House will be a great focal point for GI in London — a spiritual home for beer lovers to immerse themselves in our brewing history and tradition without the need to travel all the way to Chicago.”

“We wanted to create a venue for the community full of flavour and one that would become firmly rooted in the routines of city life and I think we have succeeded.”

He added: “We have spent the best part of 30 years honing our craft and now is the time to bring that craft to the UK - we are truly excited to share what we have created.”

Cowan said: “We have one eye on the future and we would love to do a GI brew pub in London. But for now we want to make sure we have got this one right. There are a lot of eyes on us.”