Two friends will open the first brewery in the town for more than half a century.

Experienced alcohol wholesaler Mark Russell, 29, and former City worker Simon Dale, 30, have teamed up to create Cronx Brewery, working out of a New Addington industrial unit, and will start making their first real ales later this summer.

The pair hope Cronx, an affectionate slang term for the town, will first conquer the Croydon market before expanding across the capital.

Mr Russell, whose family run IM Wines in New Addington, said: “It is born out of a shared love of beer. There is a growing market for real ale and we are keen to be part of that.

"We started test brewing in February and have created about 15 different beers, so it is now about choosing which one to be our first launch.”

Cronx will be the first brewery in Croydon since Page and Overton Brewery closed in 1954.

Mr Russell said: “Once we are up and going at the brewery, we plan to have a display about the history of beer production in Croydon. I think it is great will have a product that is truly local.”

The pair met through a Crystal Palace fans forum after Mr Dale, who is from Addington Village, contacted Mr Russell for advice on whether opening a brewery in Croydon could work.

Mr Dale said: “I went to the beer festival at Crystal Palace last year and thought ‘I could do this’. I knew Mark worked in the industry, sent him a message and it just grew from there.”

Installing huge 2,000 litre vessels for production, a large drainage area to clean the vessels, and a office area within the Vulcan Way unit, the pair hope the first casks will be heading to pubs in the borough from August.

Before that, a free tasting session will be held at the Green Dragon on Sunday, May 20.

Mr Russell said: “Getting it out is the first hurdle but with the help of my parent’s contacts we’ve had interest in Croydon and across South London.”

Related

Click here for more food and drink news