A farewell to One Mile End Brewery
It has been reported that One Mile End Brewery has stopped production a victim it seems of the cost of living crisis.
One Mile End started brewing in the basement of the pub and location of that name in 2014. It moved its main operation to Tottenham taking over what had been Redemption Brewery’s original site. Redemption moved just around the corner and is still thriving.
One Mile End particularly in north-east London was known for brewing the occasional beer with a politically inspired name. One celebrated the East End anarchist Rudolf Rocker and another was named Juicy4PM. The beer was as described, a hazy pale, but the name was supportive of Jeremy Corbyn when he was leader of the Labour Party. Corbyn doesn’t drink but no doubt enjoyed the wordplay.
A number of mainly small breweries have ceased production recently. Despite what New Labour claimed and as the 2008 financial crash reminded, capitalism is a system of boom and bust. We are currently in the bust phase. I’m not sure this worries the current Government too much. They are concerned to retain profit, or more accurately the rate of profit at the expense of the many- working people. They aren’t in fact achieving that, hence complaints about productivity.
In the meantime a few breweries and bars are starting up. The bust part of the economic cycle is a good time to start (if finance is available) because it puts businesses in a good position to benefit when trade picks up.
That unfortunately is of no help to One Mile End or those of who enjoyed its beer and pump clip names
It’s always sad to see a brewery close – especially a small one.
During a bust there’s a tendency for larger concerns to swallow up smaller outfits leading to a concentration of the means of production in a narrower group.
This could lead to less choice, diversity & innovation in the beer world – issues very much of concern to discerning drinkers.
I’m also miffed I never got the opportunity to sample One Mile End’s product!