Brewery and cafe approved in Hereford

An unusual brewery, café and community hub in Hereford has been approved by county planners.

Vaani and Keeran Vetriko run the Third Eye Brew Company on the Three Elms Trading Estate, Bobblestock, and had sought retrospective permission to turn the sizeable premises into a community hub, taproom and café next to the existing microbrewery.

As well as brewing a unique range of coconut flower-flavoured lagers, the couple are offering yoga classes and say they encourage “mindful drinking” at the venue.

They have given the utilitarian business unit, now named Neitiv, a wooden exterior cladding, a new door and signs, outdoor benches and cycle parking, for which planning permission was also sought.

There were no objections to the changes from councillors, officials or the public.

Approving the couple’s bid, planning officer Josh Bailey said the changes to the exterior would be “reversible” and “would not have any demonstrable impact on the local built environs”, while the new sign did not need advertisement consent.

He concluded that the centre “helps meet the needs of employees and the public, improves the site’s attractiveness to businesses and local clientele by way of the café and workspace during the daytime and taproom during the evening”, while the yoga and wellness events “provide a positive contribution to the local community”.

Neitiv is now open six days a week between Tuesday and Sunday, with late opening on Saturdays.

Vaani Vetriko said the venue “is now also offering cocktail evenings featuring our own unique ingredients”, as well as hosting more external events including a recent production of the musical Tick, Tick… Boom!