Paul Dowrick at his expanding business, the Good Life Homebrew Centre, at the Sweetbriar Industrial Estate. Picture: Denise Bradley

More and more people seem to be dabbling in making their own beer and wine, as the owner of a Norwich homebrew centre says his company has grown by about 400pc in the past three years.

Paul Dowrick, 52, set up the Good Life Homebrew Centre, in the Sweetbriar Industrial Estate, about three years ago and he said ever since it began the company has continued to grow.

“To start off with we used only about a third of our unit space, and now we have outgrown the unit and are extending the shop,” he said.

“Every single month, year on year, we have grown”

Mr Dowrick says his homebrew centre is the largest seller of homebrew equipment in the country, as well as being the largest seller of jam-making equipment in East Anglia. The shop also stocks cheese and bread-making equipment too.

“Our ultimate aim is to stock absolutely everything for the person who wants to have a self-sufficient kitchen,” he said.

He said the centre’s customer base was very diverse and that the do-it-yourself option was increasingly popular with all ages.

“More and more people are thinking they want to do it themselves. The path for your food and drink is traceable, you know what is in it, and you can have fun playing with the ingredients,” he said, adding that it was often much cheaper too as well as being a fantastic hobby.

He said in the future he would also like to run classes in homebrewing, jam and preserve-making, and cheese and bread-making.

• For more information visit www.goodlifehomebrew.com

• The Evening News Love Local campaign celebrates the people behind Norwich’s independent shops and businesses that help to keep our fine city unique.

Are you opening up an innovative new business in the city? Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk

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