Starting a mead brewery

[DukiTheDuke]

Good evening ladies and gents,

I plan to start a small mead brewery but I have some...blanks that need to be filled in.
Besides the alcohol license needed to sell the mead (plan on selling online) is there anything else that would be required (from a legal point of view)
Also, is it possible to start the brewery in a self storage unit? (again, from a legal point of view)

Many thanks

 

[HFE Signs]

I'm no expert on this but you will need insurance and I'm pretty sure you'll need over 18 declaration/restriction on your website or at least ask the customer to verify their age at the point of purchase.

 

[UkAppCoder]

... is there anything else that would be required (from a legal point of view)

Must enhance code, jazz and, as I'm sure David Bowie would have agreed, be played at maximum % alcohol volume!

 

[Scalloway]

Also, is it possible to start the brewery in a self storage unit? (again, from a legal point of view)

From the top of my head your council's Environmental Health department will need to inspect the premises and you would need to check on planning permission.

 

[MOIC]

Also, is it possible to start the brewery in a self storage unit? (again, from a legal point of view)

Doubtful that a self storage company will allow this.

 

[fisicx]

Do people still drink mead? Tried it once and decided never again.

 

[DukiTheDuke]

Do people still drink mead? Tried it once and decided never again.

It is increasing in popularity lately and looks like it's coming back in style with a modern twist to it. Ofc, I would like to start the business as a hobby that could get an extra income in time, I don't expect it to just bring millions overnight (wouldn't mind it tho xD)

 

[Kate Rothery]

Hi - I am in the alcohol business too - happy to help if I can. Immediate thoughts from your post were:

• You'll need a Personal Alcohol license
• You'll need a premises license (if online sales only, it gets less attention so that's good - allow £400 for this as the advert you need to put in the local paper is a con! but you cant avoid it)
• If you want to sell wholesale to other businesses you'll need to apply to join AWRS. That's free, but you'll need a detailed business plan to get the approval
• Nothing to stop you using a self storage unit - I found a couple local places when I originally was looking which would have accepted us, but a lot more that wouldn't. Generally its the places that were inside (part of a bigger building) that said yes, and the outside 'container' style places said no
• You'll need environmental health inspection if you are bottling the final product
• You should (but dont have to) take the Level 2 food safety and hygeine for drinks manufacturers course

 

[IanSuth]

It is increasing in popularity lately and looks like it's coming back in style with a modern twist to it. Ofc, I would like to start the business as a hobby that could get an extra income in time, I don't expect it to just bring millions overnight (wouldn't mind it tho xD)

Reading Beer festival had a Mead category as did the one at warwick University that i attended (although i don't remember too much after trying it) they tend to put it with "country wines"

It also tends to sell well around Halloween

 

[Kate Rothery]

I actually had my first ever mead 2 months ago. I'm not a beer drinking at ALL, so initially refused to even try it, but when I gave in - wow! I am glad I did, it was the most delicious, sweetest summery drink I had had in a long time

 

[Stuart Bailey]

you can also see if any local farm shops would be willing to sell it. In my neck of the woods the local farm shops are keen to sell locally made produce. You can get in touch with some local producers who dont compete with you such as a gin producer and pick their brains. Also join a local networking group who will be keen to help you start up.