Local brewery’s expansion and tap room plans rejected by council
The council has refused plans to expand the brewery into the unit next door which was previously occupied by Music Gear Direct. Image credit: The Planning Hub
By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
An independent Nottinghamshire brewery’s plans to expand its site have been rejected by the borough council.
Blue Monkey Brewery submitted plans to Broxtowe Borough Council in April 2025 to expand the Blue Monkey site at Giltbrook Industrial Park in Pentrich Road, near Eastwood.
The brewery is known for beer, including pale ales, stouts, dark ruby ales and black IPAs.
It was founded in 2008, starting off by brewing at a 10-barrel plant in Ilkeston before moving to Giltbrook in 2010.
The owners applied to double the site’s size by expanding into the unit next door, which was previously occupied by Music Gear Direct.
This would have allowed the brewing and storage area on the ground floor to be extended, with a part of the unit becoming a ‘tap room’ and shop.
The brewery currently has 11 full-time staff, but the expansion would have brought in three new full-time and two new part-time staff members.
But on Tuesday (May 27), the council refused the plans.
It did this over concerns for the “vitality and viability” of nearby town centres, according to its refusal document.
The document reads: “The proposal has failed to demonstrate that no significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of any nearby
town centres would occur.”
Councils abide by government planning policies under the National Planning Policy Framework, in which one section emphasises the importance of town centre growth.
This instructs authorities to assess whether a planned development will work towards improving and positively impacting a town centre.
If a proposed development is deemed to be more suitable within a town centre, but is located outside a town centre, this can mean councils reject plans to protect and promote the existing town centres.
The brewery is currently open from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and between 10am and 4pm on Saturdays.
The shop is open from Monday to Saturday during the same hours.
Blue Monkey Brewery was contacted for comment.
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