Hotels near the Brewery Arts Centre

The artistic hub of Kendal, the Brewery Arts Centre was fashioned out of the old Kendal Brewery, which can date its origins back to 1758. It includes a theatre, two cinemas, two gallery spaces, a bar and a restaurant.

In 1970 the brewery's Grade III-listed second premises were bought by the Lake District Theatre Trust Limited and converted into an arts and community centre. Under the energetic leadership over 25 years of director Anne Pierson the Brewery Arts Centre went from strength to strength.

A National Lottery injection of £3million saw a complete upgrading of facilities in 1998, which now include the 350-seat Malt Room for music, a Photographic Gallery and darkroom facilities, the Warehouse Gallery for visual arts, a drama studio, art and crafts workshops, the restaurant and Vats Bar, a playgroup, meeting rooms and a 250-seat theatre. In May 2000 two cinemas were added to the already vibrant artistic mix.

While there is something on at the Brewery almost every day, it has also become an important venue for major festivals. A major mover and shaker in the annual Kendal Mountain Festivals (film, books and art: November), it also helps set up the annual Kirkland alternative music festival in Abbot Hall Park (July) and in 2006 instigated what is hoped to be an annual strand, the Gateway Music Festival (international roots music: February and March).