Siren Craft Brew to open flagship taproom at Station Hill development in Reading

Berkshire-based brewer Siren Craft Brew is set to become the first occupier of the Station Hill mixed-used development in Reading, when it opens its first taproom and restaurant at the site in May this year.

The firm has inked a 15-year lease for 3,800 sq ft of space on Friars Walk, where it will offer its range of locally produced ales, porters, and lagers to the centre of the town.

READ MORE: Berkshire's Siren Craft Brew donates £10,000 to charities

Station Hill is an £850 million mixed-use development being delivered by Lincoln MGT - a joint venture between Lincoln Property Company (Lincoln) and MGT Investment Management.

Once complete, it will include up to 625,000 sq ft of office space, which will cater to over 8,000 employees, 1,300 private and affordable homes, a 600-unit Build-to-Rent community, and 100,000 sq ft of new lifestyle-led retail and leisure space.

And the opening of the Siren premises will coincide with the completion of the final phase of Ebb & Flow - the first Build-to-Rent residential element of Station Hill, providing almost 600 private and affordable homes.

"We are delighted to welcome Siren Craft Brew as one of our first amenity offers at Station Hill," said Alex Aitchison, UK managing director for Lincoln.

"Their commitment to Reading mirrors our own and we are delighted to support a local hero as they look to grow their presence across Reading and the UK."

Darron Anley, the founder of Siren Craft Brew, added: "One of our all-time ambitions has been to open a flagship tap room in our home town of Reading, so it’s incredible to finally announce that we’re doing it.

"We’re committed to building something new and unique, while supporting the great work that other like-minded independent businesses have been doing for many years. Station Hill is the right venue, in the right place, at the right time, and we align with its ambition to bring a diverse and exciting offering to the town centre.

"We cannot wait to be pouring brewery-fresh pints from the new site this spring."

Siren Craft Brew said it aims to make its Station Hill site a destination for beer lovers and also a place to showcase independent drinks producers of all kinds.

The business is investing in a highly-specced kitchen and building a talented team to serve up exciting, street-food-inspired dishes and creating jobs at all levels.

Meanwhile, the Station Hill team are working towards securing further ground-floor retail/food and beverage leisure operators.

Started a decade ago with a team of three, Siren Craft Brew now has over 60 people and brewed the equivalent of almost four million pints (over six million cans) in 2022.

It now exports to 25 countries worldwide, self-distributes throughout the UK and is stocked by Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, Asda, leading chains plus independent pubs, shops, and restaurants (including Michelin starred sites).

It also sells direct to the consumer through its website and on-site tap room.