Beer Merchants Tap announces opening date

The venue will boast 20 kegs and two cask lines, a list of more than 700 bottled beers and a deli counter loaded with artisan cheeses, meats and fresh salads. There will also be a range of wines, spirits and soft drinks.

After a successful crowdfunding campaign, in which Cave Direct doubled any investments made by customers with a bar tab, the taproom has been completed on schedule and will be open full time from 24 February.

'A magical place to be'

However, those who pledged funds to help make the project a reality will be invited to a special ‘Pledge Party’ on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 February to start spending their bar tabs.

There will also be a one-off tap takeover with Half Acre Beer Co on Saturday 17 February, with four beers available on draught from the highly rated US brewery.

Cave Direct marketing manager Jonny Garrett said: “We’re so chuffed with the way the bar has come together and can’t believe we get to open in it just a few weeks. We owe a huge thanks to the designers, builders, consultants and crowdfunders and hope we can make them proud. We know it’s going to be a magical place to be, and since it’s our office, it has to be!”

Training and tasting centre

The taproom will also function as a training centre for Cave Direct’s customers in the on-trade and as the site of the Good Company Blendery​.

“While the venue will operate as a consumer-facing taproom and bottle shop, a huge focus for us is going to be training and tastings for our trade customers,” Garrett added.

“We’re working on a training programme as we speak for beer knowledge and pub best practice, and the opportunities for meeting our brewers and trying their new products is going to be much more frequent for our customers.”