Visitors could see Archers' Golden Train

The company has submitted a planning application to build the facilities on land next to the brewery in Penzance Drive close to the Great Western Designer Outlet Village and the Steam museum.

The proposal is to erect a building to accommodate a visitor's centre linked to the existing brewery and a pub with supporting function and conference facilities.

The development is planned on vacant land to the west of the existing brewery site between the railway and Penzance Drive.

Stephen Hare, managing directors of Archers, said: "It is early days yet. There is existing planning permission in place for a public house.

"We want to offer a facility, not least for brewery visitors but for local people as well. At the moment we have people who set trips up to visit the brewery but we really don't have room.

"Visitors to the Outlet Village and Steam museum will be able to go there and sample our beer.

"We hope it will be a facility that enhances the area but we need to get the relevant permission first."

He said that over the last two years, the company has made a number of changes in its brewing process by installing a state-of-the-art cask washing, cleaning and additional fermentation facilities.

"We are still brewing beer in the old style, to a traditional recipe, and it works. Where people have a choice of beer they choose Archers.

If planning permission is granted, the project could start next Spring and take around two years to complete.

Archers beer is sold around the country. The company supplies independent pubs and pub companies.

Swindon's other major brewer Arkell's also organises tours of their plant but has no plans to build a visitors centre.

James Arkell, managing director, said: "We have no plans to open a visitor's centre. We have a very much older brewery so there would be many health and safety issues.But we continue do conducts tours by arrangement."

Bhavani Vadde