OTLEY based Shadow Brewing has received planning permission for its first brewery and tap room in the town.

The premises at 98 Boroughgate will be Otley’s first in which customers are able to drink beer brewed on site.

The news comes just after the second birthday of the brewery, which like many has seen production slashed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Owner Ian Shutt said: “We had a really good first year but the last 12 months have given us the opportunity to step back and look at what we want to achieve, and the taproom project has been a really interesting one.

“We’ve had great discussions with Leeds City Council and Otley Parish Council to come up with a solution that everyone is happy with.

“It will be fantastic to be able to serve our range of beers and other local produce to the people of Otley and beyond.”

Work is expected to start as soon as possible with a view to holding some test events before opening up to the public in the summer. There are also plans to hold events to support the community.

“We’re looking at dedicating a regular night to men’s mental health and another for women. I don’t think anyone will come out of the pandemic the same as they went in, and if we have the opportunity and space to help anyone then we’ll do it,” said Ian.

The Boroughgate premises, which have been vacant since 2017, have an interesting history which Ian is keen to explore.

“We have an undated black and white postcard when it was an Alliance Boot Company and then a big gap before it became part of Modelsport, but we’d love to know the stories of who came before us,” he said.

The brewery can be contacted via email at hello@shadowbrewing.co.uk or on social media: shadow_brewing on Twitter & Instagram and shadowbrewing on Facebook.

Ian became a micro-brewer in April, 2019 after receiving his Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme licence. Since launching, Shadow Brewing has received widespread support from local and regional bars. It has also supplied several beers - including one to celebrate a fundraising landmark at the 2019 Otley Beer Festival - for a number of festivals.