A BUILDING that used to make beer, will soon be keeping people in the region entertained in other ways.

A multi-million pound refurbishment has transformed a disused Cirencester brewery into an art gallery, theatre, café and hub of the community.

The shiny new doors to the New Brewery Arts in Cirencester opened yesterday.

The reopening comes after a lengthy campaign to raise the £2.7m needed to transform the charming but needy former brewery into a prestigious new arts centre for the region.

Spokeswoman Annie Gould said: "The remit behind the project was not just to upgrade the buildings but to provide full access for the first time to all the facilities on offer at the centre and to encourage as many people as possible to come and participate. The centre will open with two exhibitions.

Contemporary craft Made in the Middle' will be in the main gallery from today and includes ceramics, glass, jewellery, metalwork, textiles and furniture.

In the theatre space is a sister exhibition At Home in the Cotswolds'.

Visitors will be able to visit the 12 highly-acclaimed resident makers some of whom will be in their new studios.

The craft gallery shop will display the craft not only for collectors and present buyers but also as inspiration for local students.

Both the café and the shop are critical sources of income for the New Brewery Arts exhibition and education programme.

The education programme at The New Brewery Arts will be officially opened on April 3 by Turner Prize winning ceramicist Grayson Perry.

For more information visit www.newbreweryarts.org.uk.