WORK has begun on the new £1.8million home for Stroud Brewery in Thrupp, ahead of the award-winning business moving into new premises this October - but owner Greg Pilley has an apology to make over noise.

The new building, which is just 30 metres from the existing site, will allow the brewery to potentially double their brewery output, as well as providing a pretty canal-side location for the popular bar.

However, over the last few days the team at the brewery have become concerned about the impact that the noise may be having on neighbours close to the site.

“It’s such an exciting time seeing our plans come to fruition and watching the brewery’s home being built,” said brewery owner Greg.

“But we are painfully aware that the noise that our piling machines have been making over the last few days have been echoing across our usually peaceful valleys.

“I’m so sorry that our neighbours have been disturbed by this part of the build.”

Gloucestershire based building company E G Carter, who have been bought into to complete the exciting project, have been placing huge concrete columns into the ground on the Thrupp site, around 150 in total, and the force required has caused quite a racket.

“It’s extraordinary to watch, and the force required to push the concrete into the ground is impressive,” Greg explained.

“But I flinch with every bang as I realise that with the sunny weather many of residents nearby will have their windows wide open.”

Fortunately, this stage of the building work, which began at the start of this week, is expected to finish by Thursday, when teams on the site will move onto the next phase of the build.

“I can’t wait until the build is actually finished and we can invite people into the building,” Greg continued. “Although the building will of course be different - it’s going to be great to watch the space evolve as we grow into it.”

Although principal funding has been secured from loans and investments, Stroud Brewery will launch a crowd funding campaign in July in order to ensure that the building fits with the environmental ethos of the company.

Funds raised will allow a number of alternative energy systems to be installed.