Raising a Glass at MaltingsFest 2026
We’re proud to once again sponsor MaltingsFest, a celebration of independent brewing.
Held in Newton Abbot, MaltingsFest brings together outstanding breweries (many of whom are customers of Warminster Maltings) and passionate beer lovers.
As the UK’s oldest working maltings, we know that incredible beer begins before the mash tun so this celebration of the craftsmanship that defines great British beer also gives us the chance to highlight the importance of the ingredients
The event, organised by SIBA, is held over 3 days giving plenty of opportunity to try the beers you know and love, and maybe find some new favourites too.
www.maltingsfest.co.uk
Will Business Rate Reductions Boost Pub Footfall?
In our January newsletter we mentioned that we were expecting to hear about a reprieve for pubs on business rates.
We now know what that will look like and apparently the measure will cut the bill of an average pub by more than £12,500 over 3 years.
Of course, any financial relief is a positive step, but the consensus seems to be that it’s not enough. With other costs (wages, energy, supplier costs…) rising all around, a key question remains: will we see increased footfall in our pubs?
We certainly hope so. For suppliers like us, a thriving pub sector is vital, but we also recognise the pub for the heart of the community that it is to so many.
Do you remember the advert from Charlie’s Bar that went viral a couple of years ago? It really highlighted the importance of our local pubs and bars as social hubs and places of connection.
We cannot lose them.
Celebrating 25 Years of Leadership
You may have seen on our social media pages recently that the 13th of February marked a momentous milestone for Warminster Maltings owner Robin Appel — 25 years at the helm!
Robin undertook an extensive programme of repairs and restoration which took 23 years to complete, all the while carefully balancing tradition with innovation.
From a run-down, barely surviving business to a fully restored and thriving company, it’s been a labour of love and an incredible transformation.
The final stage, and biggest of all the works, was the reinstatement of the pyramid style kiln roofs. The original roofs were destroyed in a fire in 1924 and the restoration project was finished 100 years later, in 2024.
Congratulations to Robin on 25 remarkable years!
Flavour Starts in the Field
Our friends at Retribution Distilling Co. recently explored an interesting question on their blog: can you taste the difference between barley varieties in new make spirit?
The short answer? Yes.
We encourage you to read the full blog on the Retribution Distilling website.
Can you really taste different barley varieties in new make spirit
The Malt Miller ran a similar experiment back in November last year, comparing malts in a classic British pale ale.
Does Floor-Malted Maris Otter Taste Better? Blind Taste Test
Both of these reinforce something we’ve long believed and talked about before: terroir is real and the process and raw material matters.
As distillers and brewers explore provenance and terroir, barley is being recognised as contributing to flavour, especially heritage varieties like Maris Otter and Plumage Archer.
The Malt Men Reach the Final!
Warminster Town faced off against Pewsey Vale last week to emerge victorious and are now headed to the Wiltshire Seniors FA Cup Final on April 14th at Chippenham Town, where they will go up against Devizes Town FC (formerly known as the Brewers).
As proud sponsors of Warminster Town, we wish them lots of luck in the final.
Up the town!
Robin Appel & Lisa Conduit
How lovely Robin. Congratulations on your 25 years at the helm! From us all at Bowman Ales Ltd.
Well done Robin, as Americans say “Good Job”.
The Maltings, now finished. Not just restored but a lovely place. Lovely garden and little details like the Middle Place kept so tidy. Well done, also well done to all who keep it nice.