- Monks at Mount St Bernard Abbey have can build their very own brewery
- Authorities at Leicestershire District Council granted the monks permission
- The monks will develop their own Trappist beer – the only one in the UK
- Profits from the scheme will go towards the abbey’s continued running costs
Monks have been given planning permission to build what would be the UK’s only Trappist brewery at a rural monastery in North West Leicestershire.
If accredited by the International Trappist Association, the brewery at Mount St Bernard Abbey, near Whitwick, will become one of 12 in the world to produce authentic Trappist beer.
A full planning and listed building application to convert a redundant part of the 19th century Cistercian monastery building has been approved by North West Leicestershire District Council.
Monks at Mount St Bernard Abbey, near Whitwick, pictured, have been granted planning permission to turn part of their monastery into a brewery to produce Trappist beer
The monks hope to become one of 12 monasteries in the world to create Trappist beers
The plans were drawn up with the help of Fisher German Rural Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors, based in Ashby.
A spokesman said: ‘The development will enable the monastery to produce Trappist beer, the only product of its type within the UK, whilst continuing centuries of monastic brewing tradition.
‘It will replace an uneconomical, in-hand dairy farm which has ceased operation.’
Once up and running, monks and other residents of the abbey will operate the brewery, with any profits made from the venture going to the Trustees of Mount St Bernard, a registered charity responsible for maintaining the abbey and paying the monks’ living expenses.
The spokesman for Fisher German said: ‘It will ensure that the monastery can continue to be self-sustaining, in accordance with the religious order’s tenets.
‘Accordingly, the development will allow for the conservation of the Grade II listed building in a sustainable and economically viable manner.’