Rochester brewery plan would make six kegs at a time beneath a High Street taproom

A proposed brewery on Rochester High Street would make beer in batches of six kegs, with a taproom above it.

The plan for Barkis House is described in a design and access statement submitted under the name Magpie Rochester. It seeks a change of use to a nanobrewery with a taproom or micro pub.

Brewing would take place downstairs, with customers served on the ground floor. The statement sets out a route for deliveries at the back of the building and for moving barrels down to a cold store.

It does not give a keg size. Six kegs therefore cannot reliably be converted into a number of pints from the submitted information.

The proposed fit-out would remove modern interior detailing. Outside, the statement describes black-and-white hand lettering with bird and foliage designs. It says the building is not listed but is within the conservation area.

The plans also describe wheelchair access through the front entrance, alterations to internal doors, handrails and baby-changing facilities. The business intends to use local and Kent suppliers where possible and find uses for spent grain. Those are operating intentions, not confirmed supply agreements.

PlanIndex’s copy of the record showed the application awaiting a decision on 14 September 2026. Medway’s summary confirmed validation on 9 September but did not display a status field. The application documents do not establish when the taproom would open.

See the Magpie Rochester proposal on PlanIndex, reference MC/26/1670.