FDBusiness.com

Knight Frank has boosted Sheffield’s burgeoning independent real ale sector by finding a perfect home for the city’s newest brewery.

The Stancill Brewery, which uses equipment bought from the historic Oakwell Brewery, needed a base and the Knight Frank Sheffield office found the ideal spot – complete with high quality water for the finest beer.

Kane Yeardley, founder of the fast-expanding Forum Café Bar group, is one of four investors in the new venture at Parkwood Industrial Estate in Neepsend, along with business partners Adam Hague, Thomas Gill and the brewer Johnny Stancill.

Within six months of visiting the site, and after set-up, the inaugural pint was pulled and it has already earned plaudits from real ale fans. The Stancill Barnsley Bitter brewed on the site won the Champion Bitter of Yorkshire award at the Rotherham Camra Magna Real Ale Festival last week against tough competition from 250 beers from around the UK.

Kane says Knight Frank was crucial in making the right deal happen in a tight time-frame. Kane says: “We had to move quickly to find a unit to move the brewing kit into. I looked at a number of units then Rebecca Schofield from Knight Frank, showed me Parkwood and it fitted our requirements. It was not just about the water, but the right deal at Parkwood which Rebecca offered.

“The landlord, Aviva Investors, had a simple, fast legal department to first sort out a licence to occupy, and then the lease.”

The unit on Parkwood Industrial Estate on Rutland Way in Sheffield is close to the former Stones Cannon Brewery at Neepsend, an area known for its high quality H20 and the centre of Sheffield’s brewery renaissance, which is receiving global acclaim.

Kane adds: “The unit was exactly the right size and height to house the brewing equipment. Most importantly, the water is of very good quality. It’s why many other distinguished breweries are located in the area.”

Rebecca Schofield, partner at the Sheffield office of Knight Frank, who acted on behalf of Aviva, says: “The ongoing refurbishment of the units means they offer flexible manufacturing and warehousing space which is proving attractive to a variety of businesses. Let’s all raise a glass to the success of the brewery on the site.”

The brewery joins a variety of local and national companies located at Parkwood Industrial estate following the success of recent lettings including Steel City Cars, GB Eye, Plumbase, Tool Station and Antiquity, where Knight Frank and Campbell and Co have advised the landlord. – See more at: http://www.fdiforum.net/en/fdi/production/911#sthash.rk9vjfJV.dpuf