Hesket Newmarket Brewery
Think real ale and community spirit, and your mind turns to drinking rather than brewing.
But when Jim and Liz Fearnley, landlords of the Old Crown pub in Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria, decided to retire - a group of local enthusiasts came together to decide how they could keep alive the small brewery that had been running in the barn out back since 1988.
Under the Fearnleys, the business had become a Mecca for real ale enthusiasts, its beers winning awards up and down the country. As the beers developed reputation, tourists came to visit the pub. Other pubs expressed an interest in the beers, and a small network of loyal outlets spread out from the pub.
The normal option would be for private investors to buy the brewery. But locals rejected this idea when it became apparent that many investors were more interested in the resale value of the brewery land, rather than the brewery itself or the economic fortunes of the wider community.
Instead, local people came up with the idea of forming a brewery cooperative, a community enterprise run on democratic principles through which members who lived locally or had local connections could own equal shares.
So Hesket Newmarket Brewery Co-operative began operating in January 2000.
Much of the success of the brewery is down to the fact that it can call on a variety of skills and experience in its management committee, which includes a marketing expert, an economist and a solicitor.
Meanwhile, the business is also mindful of its local connections. For example, spent grains from the brewing process are sent to a farmer who grows organic produce and rears organic cattle. The cooperative also assists by ploughing shares of profits into community projects such as First Responders, Fellview Nursery and local playgroups.
Over the years much has been done to improve how the brewery works, with new equipment installed to enable new production and storage and to ensure improved quality and consistency.
The extended building with larger brewing vessels was opened by HRH Prince of Wales in February 2004.This was followed by another visit from His Royal Highness in 2007 when he was able to see the recently installed facilities for producing bottle-conditioned beer.
After the community bought the brewery, the next stage came when 120 members formed a further community co-op to buy the Old Crown pub from retiring landlord Kim Matthews.
Regulars at the Cumbrian village pub feared their local might close down or fall into the hands of a big brewery chain after it went up for sale. So they formed the co-op to safeguard the Old Crowns future as a community business.
Mr Matthews says local people recognised that if the pub closed, that would also threaten the local post office, shop and bed and breakfast.
Ownership by the community co-op will help preserve not only the independence and unique character of the pub, but will also allow the village to retain its sense of community and ensure it remains a vibrant place to live.
Julian Ross, who led the ownership bid, says: "People say they don't care about the returns: they want to preserve something that's important for the community. This is a cosy, friendly pub, which you can go into whether you're wearing your wellies, walking boots, or a suit, and you won't come out without speaking to someone."