Plans Submitted for New Bar at Former Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall
Fresh plans have been submitted to open a new bar inside the former Hawkshead Brewery Beer Hall in Staveley, near Kendal, bringing new life to a site that was once a well-known destination for beer lovers in the Lake District.
The proposed venue, which would be known as “The Nook Bar”, is planned for the former beer hall building that closed in 2024 after Hawkshead Brewery’s owners, Halewood Artisanal Spirits, decided to shut the site as part of a wider consolidation of operations.
According to licensing documents submitted to Westmorland & Furness Council, applicant Nicky Coleman is seeking permission to operate the venue as a bar, café, and community events space. The application also includes proposals for occasional live music performances and food service throughout the week.
If approved, the venue would be open daily from 10am until 11.45pm, with alcohol sales permitted from 10am until 11.30pm seven days a week. Council licensing officials are expected to consider the application in the coming weeks.
The former Hawkshead Beer Hall was a popular gathering place for both locals and tourists visiting the Lake District before its sudden closure sparked disappointment among regular customers and the local hospitality community. The closure formed part of a restructuring by Halewood Artisanal Spirits, which moved brewing operations to its larger production facility in Flookburgh. Company representatives at the time said the Staveley site was no longer financially sustainable due to rising costs, manual brewing systems, and operational inefficiencies.
The original beer hall had become closely associated with the growth of Cumbria’s craft beer scene over the past decade, helping establish Hawkshead Brewery as one of the region’s best-known brewing brands. Industry observers noted that the closure marked the end of an era for the brewery’s original Staveley base, which had long served as a social and cultural hub for residents and visitors alike.
Reaction to the latest plans has so far been largely positive online, with many local residents welcoming the prospect of the venue reopening in some form rather than remaining vacant. Supporters say a new hospitality business could help boost footfall in Staveley and preserve an important social space in the village.
The licence application will now undergo the standard consultation process before a final decision is made by councillors and licensing officials.
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