A Swindon bar and microbrewery has found success despite the “challenges” of rising costs thanks to their regular beer festivals.

Between October 31 and Sunday, November 5, The Drink Valley, at Fleet Square in the town centre, held its fourth beer festival since opening at the venue in December 2021.

During this time, the bar hosted a range of speciality beers, ciders and curries that attracted crowds from around Swindon and beyond.

On the final day of the event, manager Dhiraj Pujari, who started the business with his wife Deepali in 2020, spoke to the Adver about the importance of the popular festivals.

He said: “We hold a beer festival every six months and now it’s getting really popular, we’ve had a good response from customers.

“We’ve had people coming from nearby towns and cities like Devizes, Bristol, Reading, Stroud and Gloucester, so it’s getting big further afield as well.”

Swindon Advertiser: The Drink Valley in SwindonThe Drink Valley in Swindon (Image: Newsquest)

The festival boasted a selection of different types of beers from across the country allowing customers to try things “for the first time.”

The bar has now established itself in the town centre, with its two-year anniversary fast approaching, and has grown quickly since its inception in 2020.

Mr and Mrs Pujari initially started the business in a vacant Brunel Shopping Centre unit on Canal Walk before moving into their current premises the following year.

At the time the pair had to deal with the challenges of both the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, but Mr Pujari says the bar’s range of beers and regular festivals have helped them overcome these obstacles.

He added: “This industry is struggling everywhere because costs are going up for energy, they were high when we started and got even higher, and the customers were also facing these problems.

“It’s a really good feeling because we’ve been successful despite this and had support from customers and friends, and we’re rammed full most of the time.

Swindon Advertiser: The Drink Valley in SwindonThe Drink Valley in Swindon (Image: Newsquest)

“There have been negative comments about the town but we’re hoping to make it better our way and hopefully there will be new businesses coming soon as well.”

The Drink Valley was recently recognised nationally for the quality of its beers when it was named in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2024, its first entry into the coveted list.

More festivals and events are planned for the bar and microbrewery in the future as it continues life in the town centre.