Company brews up 150 jobs

Tomos Watkin brews award-winning real ale

The first new traditional brewery in Wales for 80 years is due to open on Wednesday.

First Secretary Rhodri Morgan will open Tomos Watkin's Phoenix Brewery at Swansea Enterprise Park.

Tomos Watkin is Wales's fastest-growing brewer and it plans to produce more than four million pints of beer a year.

The new brewery is part of a £10m expansion

The new brewery is part of a £10m expansion over the next five years and will create 150 jobs.

The brewer started production at the Castle Brewery in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, four years ago.

The Swansea site is the first in Wales to begin large-scale production of cask conditioned ales since the United Club Brewery opened at Pontyclun in 1921.

The move goes against the trend of brewery closures in Wales. In the 19th century, Swansea alone had 15 breweries but the last closed 40 years ago.

Managing director Simon Buckley said: "Our appeal to 'Save Welsh Jobs - Drink Real Welsh Ale' has resulted in a terrific demand for our products.

The Welsh public is getting the message that home-produced beer is best.

Colourful personalities

"Why should our nation consume millions of gallons of bland, expensive imported beer each year when we have better, value-for-money product here in Wales?"

The company also opens its first pub in the Welsh capital.

The Cayo Arms, at Cathedral Road, Cardiff, is named after Julian Cayo Evans, leader of the Free Wales Army in the 1960s.

Tomos Watkin names its products and pubs after famous and colourful Welsh historical personalities.