Brewery
18 Manford Industrial Estate, Manor Road, Erith DA8 2AJ (Bexley)
bexleybrewery.co.uk
First sold beer: 25 September 2014
This operation on an industrial estate beside the river Thames, by Crayford Marshes on the edge of Erith, is the first standalone brewery in Bexley since Reffell’s was closed by Courage in 1956. It’s a family business run by former IT manager Cliff Murphy, his wife Jane, once a teacher, and their son Cameron. The local focus is evident from its mascot, a ring-necked parakeet: there are now feral colonies of these exotic birds all over London but they were first noted in Bexley.
The 10 hl brewhouse was bought new from Brewing Vessels in Stockport. Fermentation capacity has been increased though there’s room for more: the unit is currently much less cramped than many London breweries, and was the smallest suitable and affordable space the founders could find.
The industrial location isn’t particularly favourable to a taproom, especially as the estate gates close at night, though the brewery has long held occasional open days and in 2021 began opening regularly on Saturday daytimes. The Murphys had always planned a micropub as part of the business and in April 2018 opened one in Barnehurst, the Bird and Barrel (100 Barnehurst Road, Barnehurst DA7 6HG), which stocks a comprehensive range of the beers.
Beers are in cask – still accounting for 80% of sales – with some keg and bottle-conditioned. All bittering hops are from Hukins in Tenterden, Kent, though some aroma hops are imported.
For some years Bexley was host to a fermenter belonging to Brixton brewery Clarkshaws but this arrangement had ceased by 2021.
Updated 26 November 2021.
Fun fact – the London Borough of Bexley was formed in 1965 therefore Bexley Brewery is the FIRST brewery in the London Borough of Bexley.
Reffells existed in the Municipal Borough of Bexley, which, in 1965, was merged with the Municipal Borough of Erith, Crayford Urban District and parts of Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District.
Thanks Colin, you are of course correct. The current site of Bexley Brewery would have been in Erith borough (then in Kent, not London). I guess they made things simple in their early publicity!