About the Brewery
The site that now houses The Brewery has a rich heritage at the core of Romford’s identity. From 1708, the Star Brewery (later part of Ind Coope) operated here, drawing on the waters of the River Rom and employing generations of local residents.
For nearly three centuries, the brewing tradition endured, and one of its flagship beers – John Bull Bitter – became well-known in the region. In 1993, the brewery closed its doors. What followed was a period of transformation: in 1999 redevelopment began, and by May 2001 The Brewery shopping centre opened, purposely designed to honour the past while creating a vibrant future for Romford.
Today, one of the old 160-foot chimneys still stands as an enduring landmark, integrated into the design as a nod to the site’s legacy.