19/07/2025
Way back in 2016, almost to the week as it happens, my time as owner of the Emp began. A few weeks later, and Liam became my first hire. A few weeks later still and I was negotiating on the old NatWest bank in Holmes Chapel for what is now The Bottle Bank. A place where craft beer met artisan spirits met family owned vineyards.
There’s quite a contrast between these two locations. The relaxed, slightly weathered, homely social hub at the Emp, and the cool, classy wine and cocktails-in-a-bank vault vibe of the Bottle Bank. Both great places to visit, just very different. It was always going to be something the Emp could never be, but that was ok, because the Emp was its own thing.
It was the success of the Beer Emporium that let me build the Bottle Bank into another community inspired sanctuary, and the Emp will always be so very special to me.
Fast forward to September 2021, and a keen homebrewer called Andy obtained some old brewery tanks through a chance conversation during a homebrew club meeting and was deciding what to do next. If he was serious about to start a brewery, he had to be sure that it would work.
Questions like “Would pubs buy my beer? Would customers like what I made? Could I cover the running costs? Or do I pass this kit on and write it off as a daft idea?” floated round and round his mind.
Andy gathered together half a dozen bottles of his best homebrew and armed with a Kumquat IPA and a dry hopped Citra pale, headed off to see Liam at The Beer Emporium.
It was a reasonably busy midweek evening and Liam poured the contents into small glasses and arranged them on the bar top for the customers to try.
And big smiles followed.
Liam said ‘If you’re in, we’re in’. If Andy decided to start a brewery, he had me as his first customer.
Andy did indeed start a brewery, and has built Four Priests Brewery in Middlewich into a beautiful little haven of great beer and community vibes. And he’s now decided the time is right for a dedicated venue. After the loss of Liam 2 years ago, I’ve decided it’s time for me to focus on what matters most to me, and that is growing The Bottle Bank into what it can be.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far, it’s to follow your passion. Both Andy and I are in agreement here, so we will both do just that. Four Priests Brewery Ltd have agreed with The Beer Emporium Ltd that they will take on the lease & acquire the assets of my Sandbach venue, effective today, 19th July.
The Beer Emporium Ltd has not been sold and we will continue here in Holmes Chapel, allowing me to focus on and grow the Bottle Bank and make our future plans of more venues & a coffee roastery a reality.
To my friends and Emp regulars, fear not! Yes you’ll certainly see more of Four Priests great beer, but it’s not going to be a brewery tap model. Even Andy doesn’t want to only drink his beer. More handpulls, more taps, more choice. The craft beer & local community ethos that has been at the core of the Emp will remain, as will the guys you know pulling your pints… it’s just a different colour beard will be in charge!
All that remains is for me to wish Andy and the Four Priests team massive success at our old home, and I know that whenever we want a damn fine beer brewed & served by people who care, we’ll still always be able to find one in Sandbach.
Until next time, we’ll see you at the bar!
Rich
