New brewery set up at Cotswold Water Park

Cotswold Lakes Brew Co was founded during the pandemic, when beer-drinking colleagues from the finance industry decided to make the product themselves. 

In May last year they sold their first beer at a pop-up event in South Cerney, and since then have produced more than 15,000 pints.

“We set out to create the best-tasting beers we could,” said founding partner Lee Selway.

“We wanted to make a positive difference in our local community and more widely. It’s what we call ‘beer with purpose’.”

And the brewers have now handed over a £200 cheque to Cotswold Lakes Trust – the equivalent of one per cent of gross sales revenue in the burgeoning brewery’s first year.

“We’re lucky to be based in the beautiful Cotswold Water Park and are keen to help keep it that way," said Lee.

"Supporting Cotswold Lakes Trust was an obvious option - it’s a charity dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of the Cotswold Water Park for the benefit of wildlife and people."

“Our support of Cotswold Lakes Trust is a long-term commitment that will hopefully grow to become a financially significant partnership.”

Development director of Cotswold Lakes Trust, Matthew Millett, thanked the brewery for its support. 

“It’s great to get the backing of local businesses. And the fact that we share the same values in protecting the environment and doing the best for the Cotswold Water Park is a real bonus,” he said.

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Cotswold Lakes Trust plays a major role in the environmental welfare of the Cotswold Water Park – a network of 180 lakes stretching across 42 square miles from South Cerney in the north and Somerford Keynes in the west, to Cricklade in the south and Lechlade in the east.

The Cotswold Water Park is nationally recognised as a unique wetland area which is home to tens of thousands of water birds, 20,000 residents and one million visitors per year.

To donate, go to cotswoldlakestrust.org/donate