Lancashire brewery looks forward to creating new celebration beer for hit band

A Lancashire brewer says it is looking forward to creating a new beer for hit band Starsailor next year.
Mike Richardson and Ben StubbsMike Richardson and Ben Stubbs
Mike Richardson and Ben Stubbs

Rivington Brewing Co has been asked to create the special brew to mark the 20th anniversary of Starsailor’s first album Love is Here.

The brewery, which operates from Home Farm, Horrobin Lane, Rivington, has already met up with the band's frontman James Walsh, who comes from Chorley, to discuss the plans.

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"He came up last Thursday," said Ben Stubbs, 34, who co-owns the brewery with his brother-in-law Mike Richardson.

Rivington Brewing CoRivington Brewing Co
Rivington Brewing Co

"He approached us because it's twenty years next year since the album was released.

"We just got chatting. There was a bit of awareness because he's a Chorley lad originally.

"It was a bit out of the blue. He said one of his brother's friends had had our beer during lockdown.

"I was pretty surprised. He's fairly well known locally."

StarsailorStarsailor
Starsailor
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Though plans for the new draught beer have yet to be finalised, Ben said he expected it would be a "mid strength, hoppy pale" beer.

And he added: "Hopefully we can get it out into cans as well so it can reach his fans."

Ben said the brewery was looking forward to meeting up with James and the band in the future as lockdown restrictions hopefully ease.

"We're looking forward to him getting down next year and seeing how it goes," said Ben.

And a name for the beer?

"We've left that to him," said Ben.

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The two owners got into the brewing business after starting out home brewing.

Now they have their own brewery - focusing on innovative modern styles, while drawing inspiration from the past - launched in 2014, together with a tap room.

Their website says: "Our inspiration comes from all over the world, but our focus is very much local. We concentrate on making the best beer in styles we love, for the people in our local communities.

"Our passion for the North West is paid back tenfold. We have local landlords who buy whatever we make, no matter the style - from barley wine to grisette - we’re really lucky that so many places support us because they likes our beers, and their customers love to try anything local.

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"We want to bring people to the area. We’re incredibly proud of our Lancashire roots and want to build on what we’ve seen in Manchester with people making good coffee, good food and good beer. Places like Preston are thriving with a fantastic up and coming beer scene. Making better beer is our way of contributing to that.

"The people we look up to are all the brewers who are never content with the beers that they’re making... you can always be better."

Starsailor burst onto the music scene in early 2001 when their first single Fever earned them the title of “Britain’s best new band”.

Their album Love Is Here, released in October 2001 reached number two in the UK Album Charts that year, after receiving great critical acclaim.

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James said:‘We’re excited to be working with Rivington Brew Co on a new beer to mark 20 years of Love Is Here. I was born and spent my youth in Chorley, so it’s great to work with a quality local business on the project.”

“It’s great that good beer from independent breweries is so widely available now.

“When I started drinking in pubs it was only the big brands really.”

All touring has been cancelled because of the pandemic, so Starsailor are streaming a show from the Northern Quarter in Manchester. (https://starsailor.veeps.com/stream/events/dded1d6626cd) on Wednesday August 26.

The band is asking fans to tune in. to show support.’