New Beer Hall set to open at Coachworks Ashford this May

A brand new indoor Beer Hall is set to open at Coachworks Ashford on Friday 1 May, giving the popular venue a long-awaited all-weather space for drinks, street food, live sport and music.

The new 140-capacity venue will sit alongside the existing outdoor Yard, allowing Coachworks to operate year-round for the first time.

Known for its festival-style atmosphere, street food and live events, Coachworks has become a staple of Ashford’s social scene. The addition of the Beer Hall is expected to build on that, particularly through the colder months.

The plans were given unanimous approval by the planning committee following a short and positive meeting, with planning officer Benjamin Dengate presenting a strong recommendation in support of the scheme.

This also marks the largest single investment into the site since it first opened, and the first of a number of planned improvements following the business securing a long-term lease with Ashford Borough Council.

The space will focus on a strong beer offer, led by German lager Paulaner, alongside rotating beers, a revived bottle shop and multiple screens showing live sport. The Beer Hall will be equipped with a large number of screens supported by both Sky Sports and TNT Sports, allowing it to show major fixtures across football, rugby and more.

Live sport will sit naturally alongside the wider offer, as part of the same atmosphere Coachworks is known for.

Alongside this, the Beer Hall will offer a wide-ranging drinks menu including a curated Kentish wine list and a proper cocktail menu, giving it something for everyone, not just the beer crowd.

Street food traders already based at Coachworks will continue to serve alongside the new indoor space.

Owner Steven Sitton has said:

“This is something we’ve been working towards for a long time. Coachworks has always been great in the summer, but this gives people a proper place to come all year round.

It’s also a big step forward for the site. Securing the long-term lease means we can now properly invest and build something sustainable here, not just short-term fixes.

The support from the planning committee was hugely encouraging and gives us real confidence in what we’re building here.”

The Beer Hall has been designed to reflect the site’s industrial style while creating a more sheltered, flexible space for everyday use and larger events.

The new venue is expected to attract both regulars and new visitors, strengthening Coachworks’ role as one of Ashford’s key destinations for food, drink and entertainment."

An Ashford Borough Council spokesperson said:

“We are pleased to see the popular Coachworks offer expand. Since its inception in 2019, the location had been a hub for entertainment, events, business and great food and drink. We’ve seen it go from strength to strength, with new offers, and tenants including the Craftship. This is an exciting new chapter, and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow.” 

The cluster of former agricultural industrial buildings date back to 1846 and are owned by Ashford Borough Council. They have been transformed by award-winning architect Carl Turner and were originally used by a corn merchants. The inspiration for the Coachworks name comes from a firm of coachbuilders who were based there for 30 years from the 1960s; Crofords Carriages counted the Royal household and Harrods among its customers, and the company still operates from Ashford today."

The Beer Hall opens Friday 1 May at Coachworks Ashford.

For more information, visit www.coach-works.co.uk 

Media Contact: Steven Sitton, Operations@coach-works.co.uk