Chris Shanahan: Watkins to leave Wig and Pen, establish new brew pub

After 17 years brewing at Civic’s Wig and Pen, Richard Watkins announced plans, with backers, believed to be from Melbourne, to set up a new brewpub in Braddon.

Watkins says he’s currently training Dr Tom Lillicrap as replacement brewer at the Wig and Pen. Lillicrap, a keen amateur brewer, has worked behind the bar at the brewpub for a number of years and also helped out in the brewery.

Watkins says the new brewpub — to be named BentSpoke Brewing Company — will be located on two levels in a building currently under construction on the corner of Mort and Elouera Streets, Braddon. It’s on the site of the former Mitsubishi dealership.

He expects to begin fitting the pub out towards the end of this year and to open it on completion of the building, scheduled for early to mid 2014. He says every element of the brewing will be visible to patrons.