Winery Chapel Down has gained planning permission for a brewery following a successful crowd funding project to support its Curious Drinks division. The campaign, which closed in February, offered a comprehensive package of shareholder benefits and attracted 895 investors. Almost a third of investments came from our home county of Kent demonstrating the support from the local community.

In a statement the group said: “We are pleased to announce that we have exchanged contracts on a 1.6 acre site in Ashford town centre for the development of the Curious brewery.  Planning submissions have now been made for a state-of-the-art brewery and visitor attraction in the heart of Ashford in Kent."

Frazer Thompson, Chapel Down CEO, said “We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on a freehold site that will see the development of the Curious Brewery in Ashford. The Curious Brewery will be a very exciting development for Ashford, for Kent and contemporary British brewing. We’ve had tremendous support from Ashford Borough Council and are looking forward to working with architects, Guy Hollaway, and developers, U+I, to create something exceptional.”