Brewers Quay redevelopment set to finish in June 2027

Developers behind the Brewers Quay project in Weymouth have confirmed that the main building works - building new homes, shops and a new Weymouth Museum - will be completed in June 2027.

Brewers Quay was closed in 2010, and its future was up in the air for years after prospective sales fell through.

The site used to be a major tourist attraction in the town, drawing footfall to Hope Square.

Brewers Quay previously held a pub with live music, a museum and popular café along with popular shops.

Described as ‘much-anticipated,’ the project will look to bring life back into the area of the town again with the new Weymouth Museum at the forefront.

The Grade II listed site is being developed by local firm, Brewers Quay Weymouth Ltd, which will look to turn the ground floor into a new and improved home for Weymouth Museum, alongside four retail units.

Elsewhere within the building complex, the company is planning to build 37 flats, 12 mews houses and a gym.

Work has already begun to the Grade II listed building which has been split into two phases- the main building and Brewery Reach, which encompasses Coopers Mews.

Jason Craig of Brewers Quay Limited, said: “Brewery Reach is well underway and about fifty per cent complete. Coopers Mew is also progressing well at this stage.”

However, the ‘much-anticipated’ second phase, which has been ‘especially challenging’ to developers, could take longer after needing to change their plans.

Mr Craig said: “The interior demolition for the main building has been completed, but we’ve had to revise the planning application.”

He added that the alterations are ‘minor’ and are agreed to be more beneficial to the area, which has been earmarked for the return of Weymouth Museum after working with the conservation officer at Dorset Council.

Although one window will be completely replaced, all previous windows in the main building are set to keep their original look.

Mr Craig said: “We worked with the museum to rebalance the work and in trying to retain the current look of the building we’ve tried to keep the existing windows over the aluminium shop front style.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to revise the plan so the shop front window at the entrance to the museum will be aluminium which is a shame,” he said.

Mr Craig said that there have been further finds from demolitions, such as a cart weight, that they will be looking to add in as a feature, along with trusses.

He said: “The apartments upstairs looked clunky and didn’t flow very well so we’re adding in one apartment upstairs which would have been an area the museum would not have been able to use."

Mr Craig went on to say that this change in development will give the museum area more space.

The roof has also needed more work to it, as Mr Craig explains: “It’s a shame as where the building has been left so long damage has occurred and now we have to replace every section because the previous developers built over what was already there.”

A new website, Brewers Quay, has been set up to show prospective buyers what homes are set to look like with CGI modelling. 

'Encouraged to see building getting a bit of love'

Weymouth councillors gave a glowing recommendation to plans to turn part of the Brewers Quay building into a new museum.

At a meeting of its Planning and Licensing Advisory Committee, Weymouth Town Council - which is an advisory body to Dorset Council - reviewed latest plans for a new home for Weymouth Museum.

The committee decided to actively support the application after being impressed by the plans to give new life to the historic Weymouth building.

Councillors voted unanimously to actively support the application and have encouraged Dorset Council, the planning authority with overall decision-making powers, to approve the application.

Cllr Luke Wakeling said: “I am very encouraged to see this building finally getting a bit of love it so desperately needed for so long.

“I know we normally do a no objection to things, I would like to suggest we actively support this application.

“This is rare that we do that but I think it is important we do.

“This is the right thing for my area and my ward and the town.”

Cllr Matt Bell said: “The fact that the museum is so prominent and provides an indoor recreation space, a place of interest and education is absolutely superb.”

As part of the plans, the old Newton’s Cove car park will become six townhouses with gardens, parking and terraces.

Cllr Jon Orrell said: “I regret the loss of car parking in the centre of town but I understand you need to build on those car parks to get the scheme to be viable so we have to accept the loss of car park for the scheme to work.”

Cllr Lucy Hamilton thanked developers, who were in attendance at the meeting, for their application.

She said: “Thank you so much for investing and for improving the design and I am absolutely delighted about offering a future for a museum to tell Weymouth’s story it is amazing. Thank you.”