Like the legendary phoenix bird which rose from the ashes of its funeral pyre, a new brewery is opening at the Bitter End, not long after Jennings Castle Brewery was closed permanently by Carlsberg-Marstons. Jennings had been brewing fine ales in Cockermouth since 1874 and would no doubt have still been going strong if they had not sold out to Marstons in 2005.

However, on a brighter note, Mark Cockbain, who owns the Bitter End in Kirkgate, Cockermouth, with his lady wife, has acquired top quality brewing plant from Phil Harrison, who shut down his Twisted Magnolia brewery and bar in Keswick a couple of years ago. Phil set up the successful Keswick Brewery with his ex wife Sue in 2005 and Sue is still at the helm of this award winning brewery. It was rumoured that Phil had initially intended to relocate his brewing plant to a site near Penrith.

Mark intends to start brewing about the end of July 2023 He is seen here next to his newly installed stainless steel brewing plant at The Bitter End. This new brewery is in the same location where there had been a brewery, installed in 1995 by former owners Mike Ashley and Sue Adams.

The new brewery has 3 fermenting vessels and once it is up and running, they are looking to initially produce approximately 11 x 9g firkins of real ale a week.

Mark and his business partner Brian Whatamore have indicated that they initially plan to brew a light golden ale, a traditional bitter and a dark stout. The Bitter End pub currently has 5 handpumps on the bar.

Future plans include bottling beer in time for the Taste of Cumbria Festival, which is held in Cockermouth in September.

The West Cumbria branch of CAMRA wishes Mark and his team well with their new exciting venture and congratulates them on putting a brewery back into Cockermouth

(Information sourced and supplied by branch stalwart Len Wainwright)