My local Homebrew shop has closed down

[Clint]

I think as the hobby has evolved and gained popularity and pursued quality the LHBS has either done the same or died. It seems you need to stock nearly everything and do online too. This takes huge investment but looking around it seems most of the big players are still from small ventures or family owned that moved with the times..
Saying that I would love a LHBS as getting in there and talking shop,buying your gear and generally wasting time is a great thing to do on your day off...a bit like fishing tackle shops really...
I phoned my local-ish shop yesterday to ask if they had any Munich and brown malt..."no",what hops have you got..."fuggles,EKG and admiral"...it's a shame...I would have driven the 10 miles or so..bought malt,hops and maybe some other bits. I did say last time I was there if he stocked more I'd buy more...bit of a catch 22 for the small business.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I agree Clint we have a local health food shop that sells a few bits and a Wilko in the next town but haven't ever has a home brew shop, the Internet has killed many businesses and home brew shops are just another causality.

 

[prog99]

We're lucky in edinburgh in that the lhbs has been expanding. They got into online selling very early on and had to move to bigger premises, conveniently on my cycle on from work.

 

[cheshirehomebrew]

I did think about contacting a couple of local breweries, to see if I could purchase some grain from them, or get their contacts and order (not in bulk) what I need

 

[St00]

I'm a Stockport local and just stumbled across this thread searching for a replacement LUBS for Peter's Place.

I can't believe there's no where in Stockport . I had a minor panic as I've just put an order in and forgot DME and Brewer's sugar.

Luckily I've just found some. That's the exact scenario where LHBS are a necessity.

I get most of my stuff from The Malt Miller.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

My homebrew shop in Northwich closed and also a malting sin New Abbot where I bought my grain. Now use Worchester Hop shop or Get ready brewed.

 

[Dexter101]

Its always a shame when small businesses close but as the generations continue, more and more people will be shopping online. Government has to step in. They need to direct and support shops to be more than just a retail space as they will never survive and are leading to the town centres we have now with no life and so many empty units.

By developing space where you encourage people to come for classes on brewing, encourage homebrew to utilise the spaces, sell products (even if its just via an online portal to get it delivered) and then space for drinking in an evening. This type of community would then be able to fund itself, encourage much needed community activities and help support livelihoods.

Gone are the days of the shop, but we need to think bigger if we want to keep the idea of a town centre.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Dexter
Sounds lie you should start one

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Like even

 

[Dexter101]

Dexter
Sounds lie you should start one

Would love to but to be honest i don't know enough about brewing!

Long term plan is something similar around food but incorporating into a community food project around food education from running sessions for primary school children, home to local food groups etc.

 

[LeeH]

Mine went in December which is a shame. But they didn’t cater for hard core AG brewers unfortunately.

 

[Pete Simpson]

So much for then English being a nation of shopkeepers https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/po...on-of-shopkeepers-again-ministers-pledge.html Adam Smith and Napoleon Bonaparte.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The headline is "Britain to become a 'nation of shopkeepers again" but we all know its BS, as most of us now shop online, we are fairly lucky here as few shops are empty but its a different story in the next big town, i cannot see this trend ending any time soon.

 

[Andybuda]

Sad shame known the shop for 15+ years. Funny how when the recesion hit they had more people in there shop then anypub round stockport..
Pete hope your enjoying your freetime you alway have watch repairing as a trade. Heard the swiss ladys love an english man....

 

[St00]

He moved to Barnstaple and re-opened, but online only.

 

[GhostShip]

I always try and support my LHBS when I can, but to be honest it's getting more and more difficult. It's probably a 40-mile round trip for me, they often don't have the particular kits I want to try and their prices are higher than online. I love the idea of popping in, having a chat about beer and buying some stuff, but the fact is, it's just not very convenient when compared to sitting in front of my computer and being able to choose from a huge range that someone will deliver to me just a day or two later.

 

[Deathstar]

I know my preferred LHBS have already changed their hours (Thu/Fri Sat - Open), due to pending retirement.
It has got me thinking, where next. There is another one 15 miles away, though its a PIA to get there due to parking restrictions.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Same for me 30 mile round trip to Leyland hbs and same open thurs fri sat, its a really friendly place always have a chat they have a fantastic range of products to

 

[Cheshire Cat]

My HBS in Northwich was Brew2Bottle but in closed and moved to Burnley and are online only. I still use them but they are not hot on AG.

 

[Clint]

My "lhbs" is about 10 miles away and doesn't seem to get much variety in for ag brewing...even though I think they have installed a micro in the cellar that you can hire...a bit stupid really as you would think having grain/malt etc on site would be a no brainer!