Today, much to the chagrin of real ale lovers, the brewing industry is dominated by a few large corporations. But not so long ago, small scale beermakers were dotted across the Five Valleys, including Nailsworth. Beer production in the town ran dry in 1908 when the company merged with the bigger Cheltenham Brewery. But now, nearly a century later, two committed beer drinkers are bringing brewing back to the town by launching their own micro-brewery. Sian Davies reports.

APPROPRIATELY enough, it was over a beer in their local pub that friends Jon Kemp and Oisin Hawes hit on the idea of starting a micro-brewery in Nailsworth.

Now after months of preparation, the first brew is bubbling away and will be ready to drink in three weeks.Jon will run the re-launched Nailsworth Brewery while Oisin will look after the pub upstairs.

Although the building, formerly the Village Inn and the Wade Inn, was most recently used as offices, the basement once housed a thriving nightclub, where the likes of John Peel, Dave-Lee Travis and Noel Edmonds would spin discs as guest DJs.

Jon, a 43-year-old father-of-two from Brimscombe, previously worked at Smiths Aerospace in Cheltenham designing computer systems for military aircrafts.

He gave it up 18 months ago to start a masters degree in computer science, but has always had a passion for real ale.

"Oisin wanted to own and run a typical English pub and Nailsworth seemed the right town for it and the former Village Inn, the right building," said Jon.

"The basement had previously been used as a nightclub but Oisin had plans to use it as a micro-brewery.

"We discussed his plans on a regular basis - Wednesday nights at the Ram Inn - and then one night he mentioned he didn't want to run the brewery himself - so I suggested we go into business together, so, after our wives agreed, Nailsworth Brewery was born."

Oisin, also 43, has many years of experience in the pub trade.

He lives in Uley and owned the town's Cross Inn before converting it to flats and a restaurant.

But Jon, who has never worked in the industry before, is fulfilling a college dream by running the brewery.

"When I was at college, many years ago, me and a friend were keen brewers," he said.

"When we left, I suggested we should put computing on the backburner and start brewing instead.

"It never happened. My brewing partner headed off to financial institutions and I went to the aerospace industry."

Although Jon has never brewed beer commercially he is a keen home brewer.

"We have an advisor, a sort of brewing mentor, who helped us create the recipes and we've had a lot of support from other brewers in the area," he said.

"But I know what flavours I like in beer and used that as a guide." The brewery, which will produce around 432 gallons - around 3,456 pints - a week, has three different brews - the Mayor's bitter, The Dudbridge Donkey and the Artist's Ale.

"An artist friend of ours, Nicola Grellier, is doing all the artwork for the beers, but we couldn't afford to pay her so we offered to name a beer after her - the Artist's Ales," said Jon.

Now the brewery is up-and-running the next stage of the project the pub, which is set to be opened in a few months time.

But in the meantime the company, which has already received orders from several other pubs, is to hold tasting sessions for anyone who loves a good pint.

For more information about the brewery and pub visit www.nailsworth-brewery.co.uk