Campaign for Real Ale

Local Breweries

The following breweries are all situated within the Plymouth CAMRA branch boundaries - please click on the website or social media link for more information about that brewery.

To view brief details of former breweries in the South West of England, listed by County, please scroll to the foot of this page, or click on this link Lost Breweries Of The South West

Breweries Located Within Plymouth Branch Area

Anchor House - ANCHOR HOUSE

Plympton, Mobile 07940 270918

A new family-run brewery company established in summer 2019 to brew small batch and experimental beers. All ingredients are locally sourced where possible. A number of local charities are supported. Further details will be added once confirmed.

Bale Ale -BALE ALE

Janie Craig Cottage, Liddaton, Brentor, Tavistock, EX20 4AD.

Nano brewery established just off Dartmoor National Park in Brentor, in late 2016. All beers are unfined and will be hazy when poured, but are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Only bottled conditioned beers are available at present. We haven't heard anything about Bale Ale since December 2018, and have concluded that they have ceased trading. Please see Devon Brewery Archive



Bere Brewery - BERE BREWERY

Homefield, Bere Alston, Yelverton PL20 7JA tel 01822 840382.

Established in 2016 by growers Jerry and Buffy on their smallholding on the Bere Peninsula in the Tamar Valley AONB. The brewery produces bottle conditioned beers using hops grown on the holding, with a 1.3 BBL system and a 50L small batch kit. Building on their horticultural background, the brewery is working towards being self-sufficient in hops from 2019. In addition to 4 regular beers, occasional, seasonal and one off brews are available, with sales at TAVISTOCK FARMER'S MARKET, by arrangement from the brewery, and at The Olde Plough Inn, Bere Ferrers.


Billy Ruffian's - TBC

City College Plymouth, King's Road, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 5QG (TBC).

Opened in August 2000 as Point's West, this five-barrel brewery was installed by Mike Askey of Bitter End, at Cockermouth, having been supplied via Sutton Brewery (now South Hams), and is visible through a glass wall from the coffee shop of the PCFE campus. The plant is owned by Plymouth College of Further Education. Brewing was suspended in Autumn 2004, before recommencing in 2011 by the Community Millfields Trust. Brewing continued until the lease expired in mid 2015. In 2018, brewing recommenced again as a community-owned brewery company, promoting environmental standards and the circular economy, and providing learning opportunities for local people. Further details will be added once confirmed.

Bulletproof Brewing Limited - BULLETPROOF BREWING

Lipson, Plymouth

New nano brewery first established in an outbuilding of the owner's home in 2017. They have refurbished a former shop where the Bulletproof Brewing Taphaus opened in late 2020. They plan to continue brewing their Continental-style beers at their current site in Lipson, before upscaling by using spare capacity at other local breweries.

Dartmoor Brewery - DARTMOOR BREWERY

Station Road, Princetown, Devon PL20 6QX. Tel 01822 890789.

Established in 1994, formerly named Princetown Brewery, it is the highest brewery in England at 1,465 feet above sea level. In 2006 the brewery moved to a new purpose built building. In 2012 the capacity was increased to 360 barrels per week by the addition of another 60-barrel fermenter with a further increase in 2013. All beer is brewed using Dartmoor and Devon grown barley.

Ivybridge Brewing Company - IVYBRIDGE BREWING

Unit 3, Glanvilles Mill, Ivybridge, Devon PL21 9PS

Established in 2018, Ivybridge Brewing Company is a social enterprise brewery that aims to provide jobs and training opportunities for people with learning disabilities. They relocated to their current premises in early 2021. A small but growing range of bottle conditioned ales are available.

Morwell Brewery - MORWELLHAM QUAY

Morwellham Quay, Tavistock PL19 8JL Tel 01822 832766

A nano brewery established in earl 2017 at Victorian tourist attraction, Morwellham Quay, near Tavistock, Devon, by brewer George Lister, who relocated from Aberdeenshire, selling his 20 BBL plant in the process. Now using a 100 litre plant, three bottle conditioned beers are brewed, with the beers currently available in the on-site shop and the Ship Inn, the on-site café, and a growing number of local outlets. Indications show that beer used to be brewed in the Ship Inn when the mine was operational. Morwellham Quay now enjoys "World Heritage Status", as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.

Moorstone Brewery

Axna Farm, Horndon, Mary Tavy, near Tavistock PL19 9NF.

The micro brewery was established in a barn conversion on Axna Farm, near Mary Tavy, Tavistock, by Paul and Joanna Barton in early 2016. They are currently producing two cask conditioned real ales from a newly-purchased 2.5 BBL kit, using the farms spring water. The beers are also now available in bottle conditioned format, and at BEERS BY POST
Sadly, all brewing ceased at Easter 2018. Please see Devon Brewery Archive

Noss Beer Works - NOSS BEER WORKS

Unit 6, Ash Court Pennant Way Lee Mill Devon PL21 9GE. Tel 07977 479634.


Noss Beer Works was established in 2012, at Lee Mill near Ivybridge, to produce fine real ales using a 6 BBL plant. Their beers are made from only the finest locally-sourced quality hops and malts. The brewery has recently started to bottle beer. See website for further information.


Roam Brewing Company - ROAM BREWING CO

New Victoria House, Weston Park Road, Peverell, Plymouth PL3 4NU Tel 01752 396052 Mob 07971 411727


Roam were established in Beliver Industrial Estate in May 2012 as Tavy Ales, using a six BBL plant. They are committed to producing premium hand-crafted quality real ale that honours traditional brewing methods, but appeals to more contemporary tastes. In February 2017, Roam achieved national recognition in the CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival, when Tavy Porter was awarded Bronze Medal in the Porter Category, to go with their Overall Champion Silver Medals achieved in the SIBA South West competitions of 2013 and 2014. To strengthen their links to their home town of Plymouth, the City of Discovery, they changed their name to Roam in January 2018. They relocated to their current site in Peverell in July 2019, which also has a shop and tap room facilities.

Stannary Brewery - STANNARY BREWERY

Unit 6, Pixon Trading Centre, Tavistock PL19 8DH Tel 01822 258130 Mobile 07971 238758

Micro brewery established in Tavistock in early 2016 by four very keen home brewers. They bought their 2.5 BBL plant off an internet auction website with DIY additions being added since. Two regular beers are produced with specials and one offs throughout the year. They are all unfined and unfiltered. The brewery tap room is now open on Thursday evenings with other openings notified by social media. The beers are also available in bottles (not RAIBs).

Steel Brew Co - STEEL BREW CO

Melville Building, Royal William Yard, Stonehouse, Plymouth, PL1 3RP

This new brewery started life in a garage during 2018, to brew a range of craft beers. They moved into Grade-I* listed Melville Building, Royal William Yard, in early 2020. They brew four core beers - Mantra, Plymouth, Bombshell and Breakwater - and lots of one-off beers and IPAs, which will rotate in the Steel Brew Co Taproom. One cask ale - an American wheat beer - and three "craft" beers were available at the first Mayflower 400 event, in November 2019. Sadly, the company ceased trading on Thursday 25 August 2022 - we wish them all the best for the future.

Summerskills Brewery - SUMMERSKILLS BREWERY

15 Pomphlett Farm Industrial Estate, Broxton Drive, Billacombe, Plymouth PL9 7BG Tel 01752 481283

Established in a vineyard in 1983 at Bigbury-on-Sea, Summerskills moved to its present site in 1985 and is the oldest brewery in Plymouth. Wholesalers and pub companies perform national distribution. Following acquisition by the Head Brewer in 2012, the core range of beers were rebranded. The brewery enjoys a strong local following and its' ales regularly appear in a selection of local outlets. As well as the old favourites, seasonal and bottle conditioned beers are available: see website.



Other Local Breweries

The following breweries are all situated within 30 miles of the Plymouth CAMRA branch boundaries - please click on the link, where given, for more information. It is the distance between "THE PUB" and "THE BREWERY" that determines LocAle qualification, so is different for each pub!

BARNABY’S BREWHOUSE

BAYS BREWERY

BLACK TOR BREWERY

Bridgetown Brewery, Albert Inn, Bridgetown Close, Totnes, TQ9 5AD Tel 01803 863214

BUCKLAND BREWERS

CASTLE BREWERY

DEVIL'S PLEASURE

FAT BELLY BREWERY

FORGE BREWERY

FOWEY BREWERY

HOLSWORTHY ALES

HUNTERS BREWERY

Longhill Brewery, Longhill Cottages, Holsworthy, EX22 6UG Tel 01288 341466,

Moonchild Brewery, 2, Church Gate, Petrockstowe, Oakhampton, Devon EX20 3HL. Sadly, it is believed that the company was dissolved on 9th April 2020.

NEW LION BREWERY,

FIREBRAND BREWING

PLATFORM 5 BREWING

RED ROCK BREWERY

Riviera Brewing Company, 4 Yonder Meadow, Stoke Gabriel, Totnes, TQ9 6QE, 07714 715044.

SALCOMBE BREWERY COMPANY

SOUTH HAMS BREWERY

Sprey Point, Unit 10, Helmores Yard, Exeter Street, Teignmouth, TQ14 8JW Tel 07917 434859 (brewing has been suspended wef 17/06/2019)

Taw Valley Brewery, Westacott Farm, Westacott Lane, North Tawton EX20 2BS Tel 07900 002299.

TEIGNMOUTH BREWERY

TEIGNWORTHY BREWERY

Totem Brewery, 11 Cleaveland Rise, Ogwell, Newton Abbot, TQ12 6FF, brewing suspended wef 29/05/2018, closed 02/2020. Please see Devon Brewery Archive

Totnes Brewing Company, 59a High Street, Totnes TQ9 5PB Tel 01803 849290.

Two Tone Beers, Tor View, Hayes Cross, Shebbear, near Holsworthy EX21 5SW. Brewing suspended, wef 8/12/2019, closed 02/2020. Please see Devon Brewery Archive

TQ BEERWORKS

UTOPIAN BREWING

Lost Breweries of the South West

The following is a list of former breweries in the South West which we believe to have been in existence at some point, listed by County. Where possible, the closure year has been given, although this may have been lost in the fullness of time, as memories fade and accurate information may have been lost. If you have any corrections or omissions, please email ku.gro.armac.htuomylp@retsambew

A large number of CAMRA publications have been used in this compilation, including “Where Have All The Breweries Gone?” (1980), “Devon Real Ale Guide” (1990), “Moor To Sea – A Devon Real Ale Guide” (1993) and the “Good Beer Guide” (1982-2020). Please click on this link to view the list Lost Breweries Of The South West.

National Brewery Centre Archive

The history of beer, together with the history of the ale house, tavern and pub is a major part of the social history of Britain, and for those who like their history through a pint glass - the new National Brewery Centre Archives will be a boon.

The archives tell the history of the UK brewing and pub industries, and their impact on the UK's economy and way of life over the past 250 years via a treasure trove of imagery and digitised ephemera. Please click on this link to the NBA Archives.