Media Release
October 2005
Brew Wharf opens at Borough Market
This month, Greig + Stephenson Architects (GSA) celebrated the opening of its fourth bar and restaurant project in the Borough Market area, Brew Wharf, which contains its own microbrewery, and is located off Stoney Street, London SE1.
Brew Wharf, whose cuisine draws on the traditions of brasseries and brew houses of Northern Europe, is the brainchild of Trevor Gulliver of St John. The kitchen sources its ingredients from the famous Borough Market, located just a stone's throw away.
Tucked neatly into Brew Wharf Yard, the bar opens up a new oasis, away from the bustling market. Its entrance is set within the railway arches next to Wine Wharf, and is next door to Vinopolis, London's tourist attraction for wine lovers.
The design brief was to create a beer-based bistro that celebrated the three “heroes” of the space, namely the dramatic high-ceiling arches. Due to the vastness of the interior the design has been kept simple, with the bar, the cellar, and the brewery defining the space. GSA created a white mosaic floor, spelling out the name of the bar, which accentuates the interior, with a crisp and clean look against the brickwork of the walls. The inspiration for the floor originates from the well-known brasseries of New York, Balthazar and Pastis.
The entrance features a stepped glazed section, with a raised floor; removing the threshold between inside and out, and creating a strong invitation to enter. The sight lines are clear and the signage design provides a strong reference to historic London brewers.
GSA maintained an honesty of approach in the overall design. The materials are simple and clean, the lights subtly bring out the back drop of brickwork, and the dark walnut used for the bar is strong. The eye follows each line created by the installations in Brew Wharf as it carries through each of the three arches.
At the heart of Brew Wharf is the microbrewery, designed by GSA, producing the bar‘s two real ales; one made entirely with Fuggles hops and the other with Goldings, complementing the nearby Hop Exchange, and rediscovering the Southwark tradition of brewing with Kentish hops.
Alastair Hook’s celebrated Greenwich based brewing firm, Meantime, supplies the remainder of the beers - including the bottled imports. The draught beers available at Brew Wharf include Meantime's Cologne Style Lager, its Union (Vienna Style Lager), Wheat Beer, and its ever popular Raspberry Wheat Beer. Alastair’s ales and lagers are complemented by an extensive range of between 20 and 40 bottled beers from around the world. The wine list celebrates what Gulliver alludes to as “the tall green bottles”, namely, wines from the Alsace region.
Brew Wharf provides a quality addition to an area that has fast become the food centre of London, largely created by the successful regeneration of Borough Market.
Howard Bates, director of GSA said: “Adding to our other projects in the area, such as Tapas Brindisa, fish! restaurant, and Bombay Sapphire’s Bar Blue, Brew Wharf is set to be a huge success. Our design approach was all about respecting the greatness of the arches and we did this in an honest way, maximising the sight lines and providing strong links from the outside to the inside, encouraging passers by to come and experience the delights of the bistro.”
Trevor Gulliver, owner of Brew Wharf said: “We are pleased with Brew Wharf, it has all the ingredients of a successful destination; good location, strong atmosphere, a sense of place, and good ale, brewed on site. A place, I hope, people will want to return to.”