Formerly Canopy Beer Co.
Brewery
Arch 1127 Bath Factory Estate, 41 Norwood Road SE24 9AJ (Southwark)
birdhouselondon.com
First sold beer (as Canopy): 30 October 2014
Brewing suspended: November 2022
Brewing resumed (as Bird House): March 2024
Small independent hospitality group Bird House was founded by Frazer Timmerman, formerly at London Fields and Truman’s, with Wil Fuller, who previously worked for several pub groups. Its first site, opened in 2019, was The Hawks Nest, a railway arch bar in Shepherds Bush. This was followed by two venues in Peckham, also in arches.
In 2023, the group acquired the site and equipment of the former and much-loved Canopy brewery, located alongside various mechanics in a railway arch under the Thameslink line near Herne Hill station and Brockwell Park. Restoring production and refurbishing the taproom took longer than expected, but was finally completed by the end of March 2024 when the arch reopened under the name Bird House Brewery.
The head brewer is Heriot-Watt-trained William Hiscocks, who initially plans to brew mainly for the company’s own outlets, though with the possibility of expansion to supply third parties too.
Beers are in keg though cask may appear among the changing specials.
Canopy was founded by Estelle and Matt Theobalds after the birth of their first child prompted a lifestyle change, beginning with 6.5 hl kit from a brewery in Wakefield that never got off the ground.
The installation evolved through various often home-built additions until it was capable of producing 18 hl, with a canning line added to coincide with a rebrand in autumn 2018. An atmospheric taproom was much appreciated locally.
Production was around 60% keg, 40% canned, with a small amount of cask and minikeg.
The brewery sadly announced its closure in November 2022, stating that “the current economic situation makes our position untenable. We are choosing to close in order that we have control over the process…We have tried, without being afraid of failing.” Brewing had already ceased by the time the closure was announced, though trading of existing stock continued until the end of December.
Updated 29 April 2024.
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