Brewery looks to expand to produce cider and honey

A Shropshire-based brewery is hoping to move into producing cider and honey under plans for an expansion.

Mad Badger Brewery, near Criftins, Ellesmere, produces craft beverages.

Owner Simon Smith has submitted plans to add three polytunnels and a barn, which he said would "enable productive, sustainable use of the land".

"This project represents both a practical agricultural venture and a meaningful return to the county where I grew up and intend to build my long-term future," he said in a statement to Shropshire Council.

The additions would be created alongside another project already ongoing, to create a new pond, wetland ecological resource, and a new apple orchard.

Smith said there were already more than 200 fruit trees on site, and he was looking to add another 200 in 2027.

The application also looks to add beehives to produce honey.

This production would be managed by Neil Perkins, of Janna Bee, which was founded in Moseley, Birmingham.

Perkins said a selection of wildflowers would be planted to support the bees and enhance the quality of the honey produced there.

"This combination of experience, expert support, and habitat enhancement strengthens the agricultural justification for the proposed structures," he added.

The barn proposed by Smith would store equipment and machinery, and house management tools for the orchard and honey production, as well as providing space for apple processing, cider production and storage for harvested apples.

Smith added that traffic would be modest and primarily associated with orchard management, occasional deliveries, and seasonal harvest operations.

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