The Brewery

The Brewery is a shopping and leisure centre in Romford town centre, within the London Borough of Havering in east London, England. It occupies the site of the former Star Brewery, a long-standing local brewing operation whose industrial premises covered a substantial part of the town. The centre opened in 2001 and became one of Romford's three principal shopping destinations alongside The Liberty and The Mercury. The development combines retail, food, entertainment and transport-oriented facilities rather than operating solely as a conventional shopping mall. Its retail offer has included a Sainsbury's supermarket anchor, while leisure uses have included a cinema, bowling and amusement-arcade facilities, and restaurants. The centre is close to Romford railway station and is served by London Buses, with route 165 terminating in its car park. This combination of an anchor supermarket, comparison and convenience retail, restaurants and leisure attractions has helped position The Brewery as a town-centre destination for both routine shopping and discretionary visits. The site has an unusually direct connection to Romford's industrial history. The Star Brewery was established in 1708 and operated for approximately 285 years. By 1970 it occupied around 20 acres and employed about 1,000 people, making it one of the area's major industries. The brewery closed permanently in 1993 and was subsequently demolished. Construction of the replacement shopping centre began in 1999, and the completed development opened in May 2001. Sainsbury's moved into The Brewery from The Mercury, while the original cinema operator was Ster Century Cinemas. The cinema operation later changed hands. Vue replaced Ster Century in 2005 following a takeover, preserving cinema provision as part of the centre's leisure mix. In 2010, the Henderson Group sold a 25 percent interest in the complex to Prudential Property Investment Managers for £44.25 million. Contemporary commentary associated the investment with the centre's east London location, its combination of retail and leisure uses, and the presence of Sainsbury's as an anchor during the late-2000s recession. The Brewery is therefore best understood as a place-based retail and leisure brand rather than a manufacturer or standalone consumer-goods label. Its identity is rooted in the redevelopment of a historic brewery site and in its role within Romford's commercial centre. Publicly available reference material does not establish a current ultimate owner, a detailed tenant roster, or a complete account of subsequent redevelopment and management changes.

The Brewery occupies land with a long industrial history in Romford. The Star Brewery was established in 1708 and became one of the town's principal industries. It operated for roughly 285 years, expanding to a site of about 20 acres and employing approximately 1,000 people by 1970. The brewery closed permanently in 1993, after which its buildings were demolished. Redevelopment of the former industrial site began in 1999 with construction of a new shopping and leisure centre. The project was completed in 2001, and The Brewery opened in May of that year. Its launch added a major retail destination to Romford town centre and placed a broad mixture of shopping, food and entertainment uses on the former brewery land. Sainsbury's became the principal anchor after moving from The Mercury shopping centre. Ster Century Cinemas operated the original cinema facility. The centre's design and operating model combined everyday retail with leisure attractions. In addition to the supermarket and other shops, the complex included a cinema, bowling and amusement-arcade facilities, restaurants and associated visitor infrastructure. Its central position near Romford railway station and its access to London Bus services supported its role as a town-centre destination. Bus route 165 terminates within the centre's car park. In 2005, Vue replaced Ster Century as the cinema operator following a buyout. This change maintained the cinema's place in the centre's leisure offer while changing the operating brand. In 2010, the Henderson Group sold a 25 percent shareholding in the complex to Prudential Property Investment Managers for £44.25 million. Reporting around the transaction highlighted the site's east London location, its combination of retail and leisure uses, and Sainsbury's role as an anchor. These characteristics were presented as contributing to the centre's performance during the late-2000s recession. The Brewery is one of three main shopping centres associated with Romford, together with The Liberty and The Mercury. Its name and location preserve a connection to the former Star Brewery while its current function is commercial and recreational. Available reference material does not provide a complete record of later ownership, management, tenant changes or capital projects, so those aspects remain unspecified.

1. 2010Prudential acquires minority stake

   Prudential Property Investment Managers purchased a 25 percent interest in the complex from the Henderson Group for £44.25 million.

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2. 2005Vue becomes cinema operator

   Vue replaced Ster Century after a buyout, continuing the centre's cinema provision.

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3. 2001The Brewery opens

   The completed centre opened in May, with Sainsbury's and Ster Century Cinemas among the opening operations.

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4. 1999Shopping-centre construction begins

   Construction started on the former brewery plot for a new shopping and leisure development.

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5. 1993Star Brewery closes

   The historic brewery ceased operations permanently and was later demolished.

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6. 1708Star Brewery established

   The Star Brewery was founded on the site that would eventually be redeveloped as The Brewery shopping and leisure centre.

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A town-centre shopping and leisure destination serving Romford and the surrounding east London area, with an anchor supermarket supported by entertainment, dining and transport accessibility.

• Sainsbury'sSupermarket anchor2001

  Sainsbury's served as the centre's principal supermarket anchor from its opening. The store moved from The Mercury shopping centre and provided everyday grocery and household shopping that complemented The Brewery's other retail and leisure uses.

• VueCinema2005

  Vue operates the cinema facility that formed part of The Brewery's leisure offer. It replaced Ster Century Cinemas in 2005 after a buyout, maintaining a cinema attraction within the centre.

• Bowling and amusement facilitiesLeisure entertainment2001

  The centre includes bowling and amusement-arcade uses, broadening its role beyond shopping and supporting visits for recreational activities.

• RestaurantsFood and beverage2001

  Restaurants form part of The Brewery's mixed-use offer, adding dining occasions to the supermarket, retail and entertainment functions located on the site.

• 2010Sale of a 25 percent ownership interestM&A

  The Henderson Group sold a minority share in the shopping and leisure complex during a period when the centre's retail-and-leisure format was discussed in the context of the late-2000s recession.

  What changed. Prudential Property Investment Managers acquired a 25 percent stake for £44.25 million.

  Aftermath. The transaction introduced Prudential Property Investment Managers as a minority investor. The available source does not specify subsequent ownership changes.

  Purchase price for a 25 percent stake. £44.25 million (2010)

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• 2005Change of cinema operator from Ster Century to VueM&A

  The Brewery opened with Ster Century Cinemas as its cinema operator. Following a buyout, the cinema operation changed to Vue.

  What changed. Vue replaced Ster Century at the centre's cinema.

  Aftermath. Cinema entertainment remained part of The Brewery's leisure mix under the Vue brand.

  Source

• 2010Prudential Property Investment Managers acquires a 25 percent stake in The Brewery

  The Henderson Group sold a 25 percent interest in the Romford shopping and leisure complex to Prudential Property Investment Managers for £44.25 million. The centre's east London location, retail-and-leisure mix and Sainsbury's anchor were cited in reporting about its resilience during the late-2000s recession.

  M&AOther
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• 2005Vue replaces Ster Century at The Brewery cinema

  Vue took over the cinema operation at The Brewery after a buyout of Ster Century, continuing cinema programming as part of the centre's leisure offer.

  M&ALeadership change
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1. The Brewery (shopping centre)
2. The Brewery Romford official website