National Brewery Centre Opens

After a gap of almost two years, Burton is about to make its brewing history come alive again. Saturday 1st of May sees the opening of the National Brewery Centre on the site of the Bass Museum which closed in 2008.

As well as the hundreds of displays and artefacts on show, the new centre promises more interactivity than before with performers in period costume recreating characters from the town's past. I already pity the poor sod who gets to play Michael Thomas Bass II; I suspect that certain anorak-clad groups will bore him rigid.

The old favourites are all (hopefully) still there - it'll be good to see the 1921 model of Burton, laced with locomotives, actually working properly. New shire horses Major and Trooper will be around at the weekends. There's even a holographic presenter - Pepper's Ghost - to welcome visitors to the attraction.

Let's not forget about the beer, mind. A beer tasting masterclass is included in the price of admission and the Brewery Tap will be serving beers brewed on-site by the White Shield brewery. There will be 'beer bites', too - here's hoping Staffordshire tapas offers adequate soakage for thirsty topers.

I'll pop down this weekend (gardening duties permitting) to see for myself how the Bass Museum legacy has been handled.

The National Brewery Centre opens Saturday 1st of May. Opening hours are 10-6; the Brewery Tap bar and restaurant opens 11-11. Admission for adults, including drinks, is £8.95 with concessions at £6.95. Child admission in £4.95 and a family ticket (two adults and two children) costs £24.95.

0 comments: