#103 Luci Clayton-Jones, Double-Barrelled

For many people, you mention Reading and the first thing that springs to mind is the famed festival. The Reading Festival, which will once again take place this August, is the world’s oldest popular music festival to still be in existence….with countless bands and artists having played at the summer event over the last five decades. But breweries, as we all know, also have a special way of putting places on the map. And outfits such as Double-Barrelled are doing just that for the celebrated Berkshire town. Double-Barrelled, a concept, began when its co-founders Mike & Luci Clayton-Jones got married, back in 2015. With Mike being a passionate home brewer for many years prior, they created their first branded “Double-Barrelled” beer as their wedding favour, as a nod to Mike’s much begrudged surname. Having loved creating their own brand of beer & sharing their beers on a larger scale than ever before, this idea became the pathway to where they are today. Later this year, the Reading-based brewery turns five, so with that in mind we invited co-founder Luci to give a talk on the brewery’s journey so far. Recorded live at North’s Springwell in Leeds, Luci shares her experience in helping run a brewery, the importance of community, a love of travel and how the business has navigated the challenges and hurdles that have come their way.