Siren hits £250,000 fundraising target

The brewer beat the target on its final fundraising day – drawing a total of £271,732 – with the additional funds going towards developing the bar’s covered side terrace to become a beer garden with a planned opening set for this summer.

Siren announced in February it was set to open its first Reading town centre taproom and restaurant in May​ this year at the town’s Station Hill Development.

With more than 1,500 donators pledging funds between £50 and £10,000-plus, each one has been promised rewards, including 150% of their investment to be claimed as credit to spend in the Reading bar or in its online shop.

Community is inspiring​

In its pitch, Siren Craft Brewing said in the 11 years it has been in existence, it has grown into a business employing more than 60 people and brewing the equivalent of more than 4m pints of beer in 2023.

It added: “In May this year, we’ll be opening the doors to our flagship taproom in the centre of Reading.

“In 2018, around 1,500 people came on board as investors in our brewery through crowdfunding. This community is inspiring, so we’d love to be able to replicate that in our new town centre location.

“Despite the efforts of some incredible small, independent businesses, when people talk about the food and drink scene in Reading, it’s so often in relation to the amount of chain venues in the town.

“For all the exciting openings, every year great people and great concepts are forced out of the town. In turn, the opportunities for our regional producers and suppliers of any kind, are then also restricted. We love pouring brewery-fresh beer and showcasing other brands from our taproom in Finchampstead but appreciate it’s not the easiest location to get to, and we’re not blessed with a huge amount of space.

High on wish-list​

“All of this is why a flagship bar in our hometown has been so high on our wish-list for such a long time. We’ve been trying to find the right location to allow us to deliver on the ambitious vision we have for it.”

It added the new site will house more than 30 lines of fresh beer – including its Broken Dream Breakfast Stout​ – via its 3,800sq ft space, which has been signed a 15-year lease.

The beer line-up will also include guest beers while investment will be into a high-spec kitchen and staff to deliver “tasty, street food-inspired accompaniments”.

Siren said: “We don’t want this project just to be for beer drinkers, first and foremost it should be a place that you and your family and friends, and their friends, want to spend time.

“Wines, cocktails and all kinds of non-alcoholic options will be given just as much attention as the beers.”