Berwick Community Trust (BCT) is working on an exciting project to convert the disused Old Brewery building on Brewery Lane in Tweedmouth (Berwick-Upon-Tweed) into individual workshops, open space for training and gallery facilities for artists and creative practitioners in Berwick and the wider Northumberland area.
The project is a result of consultation with local creatives and will bring a much-loved heritage building back into use. It will enable the town’s burgeoning local creative and cultural industries to thrive and provide a place where local people and visitors can see artists at work and learn new creative skills.
The completion of this project will provide so much more than just a work environment. A creative hub will emerge that will serve as an incubator for innovation, supporting individuals and enterprises that contribute meaningfully to the local economy and cultural landscape.
Some of our artists have sent us voice notes of what the project means to them, here is a compilation video of those soundbites from the artists community in support of our project.
Support for the project from the creative community
Timeline of events so far!
July 2025 – Sponsoring Creativity – a lasting legacy or the ideal gift! For £50 your name or that of a loved one will be featured in a bespoke artwork that will displayed inside our brand new studios and gallery. This will be a permanent reminder of the generosity and support of our community. We have already raised £565,000 towards refurbishing the Old Brewery in Tweedmouth. This historic building will be saved by providing studio spaces for local artists, teaching and training space for the benefit of everyone and a gallery for the enjoyment of local people and visitors. We really need your help and support to reach our goal. So, what about an usual gift for a loved one or the chance to see your name in art?
To donate and visit our fundraising page on Local Giving, this is separate from our main page. https://localgiving.org/fundraising/sponsoring-creativity Please leave the name you wish to include in the message box when you donate. That way we can ensure that the correct name is added to the Artwork. You can donate anonymously if you do not wish to have your name included but would still like to support the project.
July 2025 – We are now inviting Expressions of Interest from locally based developers to quote on the full refurbishment, capital works, on the Old Brewery, Brewery Lane, Tweedmouth, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 2AH. Submissions will be open until 12.00pm on the 21st July 2025. For more details download the following document – Expression of Interest Call Out – CLOSED
July 2025 – Funding has been secured from the North East Combined Authority and the Cultural Creative Zone. This takes our total so far to £565,000.
May 2025 – The planning application was successful and we have secured planning permission on the site to progress to the next stage. Funding applications are now in place!!
February 2025 – Our planning application is now live on the planning portal to view – Application Reference: 25/00389/LBC
April 2024 – We had an ambition to provide artists studio workspaces within the building. We continue to explore this avenue into 2025 and are, with the support of the CCZ, actively working on a funding proposal and planning application to put forward to achieve this dream of providing suitable spaces for artist to work, create and display their works. A teaching and educational space will also be available. Keep watching for updates on this project in the coming months.
Historical
2019 – Due to changes within the College structure and a change in their plans, we are no longer working with Northumberland College on this site.
July 2017 saw us purchase the Old Brewery site on Brewery Bank in Tweedmouth with a view to work with Northumberland College to provide a modern up to date facility for Berwick upon Tweed.
