Historic County Durham buildings celebrate 200 years in business
A brewery and business centre came together to celebrate 200 years of brewing heritage at Castle Eden’s historic brewery site.
The special anniversary brought together local businesses, community representatives, beer enthusiasts and stakeholders to mark the milestone.
Held within the original brewery building, which is now home to The Old Brewery Business Centre, the event celebrated both the site's rich brewing history and its continued role at the heart of the local community.
Guests enjoyed heritage talks, guided tastings of the newly relaunched Castle Eden beers and a commemorative time capsule ceremony in the original brewery cellar.
Filled with contributions from tenants and local organisations, the capsule captured a snapshot of life at The Old Brewery in 2026 for future generations.
Francesca Sands, business centre manager at The Old Brewery Business Centre, said: "This building has been at the heart of Castle Eden's story for 200 years.
"From its origins as a brewery to its current role as a thriving business centre, it has continually evolved while remaining an important part of the local community.
"Celebrating this milestone alongside Castle Eden Brewery and our tenants is a wonderful way to honour the building's past, recognise its present, and leave something meaningful for future generations through the time capsule project."
Throughout the event, guests were invited to share photographs, memorabilia and memories connected with Castle Eden Brewery, which is now based at Seaham, helping preserve the stories that have shaped both the brewery and the community over the last 200 years.
Today The Old Brewery Business Centre continues the building's story by providing a home for around 20 local businesses, preserving many of the original brewery features while giving new purpose to this historic site.
Andy Burdon, chief executive of Powder Monkey Group, which Castle Eden Brewery is now a part of, said: "Celebrating 200 years of Castle Eden Brewery is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the rich brewing heritage of the area and the generations of people who have contributed to its story.
"The relaunch of the Castle Eden range is about respecting that heritage while ensuring the brand continues to thrive for years to come.
"We're proud to be bringing these beers to a new generation of drinkers and to be celebrating this milestone in the building where it all began."