Delayed opening for Scarlet River after construction hold-ups
The delayed opening of Witney’s new brewpub is now expected during the last weekend of March. Scarlet River Brewing Company was set up by former Tap Social head brewer Jason Bolger and his partner Niki Sibson, an eminent scientist and medical researcher. They had hoped to open before Christmas 2025, but only signed the 10-year lease in February after construction delays.
Seating up to 50 inside and 30 outside, the brewery, taproom and café occupies a unit in the Marriotts Walk shopping centre that has never been used since the complex opened in 2009. It is next to Marks & Spencer and adjacent to two restaurants and a cinema.
Although its output will be mainly craft beer served directly from tanks, it will have one hand pump which Jason describes as “cask style” as the ale does not undergo secondary fermentation in a barrel.
The five-hectolitre (500-litre) brewing plant will have a lager, IPA, Session IPA and stout as its core range, plus two other seasonal beers and two more on rotation, giving plenty of scope for experimentation. Its entire production will be sold on site but eventually it hopes to have a canning line.
“There’s something very special about an amazing pint of real ale, but budget and space constraints are against it,” said Jason. “We brewed some cask at Tap Social and CAMRA has been nothing but supportive. Tap has been supportive of me too but I did what I wanted to do there and I’m ready for something new.”
Scarlet River will open from 9am daily and hopes to attract a wide range of customers with many activities and events ranging from croquet to music. The couple hope to work closely with army and Air Force veterans in key roles.
“We’re hoping our main employees will come from a services background and we’ve been in touch with various organisations,” said Niki. “Some service people have difficulty with the transition to civilian life, but we can offer that support.”
Jason explained: “Niki found a beautiful poem called ‘Where the Scarlet River Flows’ by J. Alexis-Hagues about remembrance, and we thought it seemed like a really good fit.
“I am not a veteran but everyone in my family has served, and my uncle retired as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the US Airforce. Helping veterans has always been something I have wanted to do and Niki shares the same passion.”
While Tap Social is dedicated to helping ex-prisoners back into jobs in civilian life, Scarlet River has a similar mission to help and support ex-servicemen.
Opening of Scarlet River means beer will be produced in Witney for the first time since Wychwood was closed down by Marston’s in 2023. Large-sale commercial brewing in Witney started in the 1830s when Clinch’s brewery was formed, with the former Glenny brewery becoming Wychwood in 1989.
Jason added: “Niki and I are extremely excited to be bringing brewing back to Witney, as it does have a long history of breweries serving local communities. We hope to continue this and welcome everyone very soon.”