A NEW craft beer venue is set to open soon on Rodbourne high street

The vacant Ramona Essential Food Store on Rodbourne Road will soon be the new home of the local brewery business, Rusty Garage Craft Brewery. 

The business, owned by West Swindon resident Marek Czarnek, 45, has been operating at Rivermead Business Centre since August 2020. 

But in August of this year, a planning application was made by Mr Czarnek to turn the former convenience store into the new home for his brewpub business where he will craft and sell his creations. The scheme was later approved by Swindon Borough Council. 

Read More: Pub and microbrewery plan for Rodbourne Road get go-ahead

Since then, the brewer has been hard at work transforming the new site with an aim to have it open by November 29, just in time for Christmas. 

The old location will remain open following this, with Marek hoping that by January he will be able to complete the move to the new Rodbourne site. 

Swindon Advertiser: Marek Czarnek and his two children getting the brewpub readyMarek Czarnek and his two children getting the brewpub ready (Image: Rusty Garage Brewpub)

"I will be opening on November 29 where I'll be selling my beer, but because Christmas is coming, everything has slowed down a bit with the moving so for now I'll start selling the beer in the new location and make it in the old location."

Marek explained that he was looking to move to a more prominent location so that more people would come across the brewpub. 

"Business has been going alright, but it could be better because the location is pretty tucked away so that’s why I decided to move to the high street, people have to know where I am and go out of their way to come at the moment, but with the new location there will be customers going by and find it," he said. 

When the site is fully open, not only will residents be able to enjoy homebrewed craft beer from a local independent business, but they will also be able to enjoy a bite to eat as pizza will be on offer too. 

Like other businesses during the cost of living crisis, Marek has experienced hardship. 

"My aim is to create a salary for myself, that's all I want – at the moment in my current location it’s pretty bad, the mortgage has gone up, the electricity up, people don’t really know I'm there – and with everyone struggling people aren't buying craft beer as it's considered a luxury product."