Owners of an East Lancashire brewery that was founded during Covid are asking for help to open a new tap room.

Clare Richardson and her business partner and cousin, Anthony Rothwell, set-up Peregrine Brewing Ltd in June last year, and are now hoping to open a bar in a former paper mill in Rishton, where they currently brew their ales.

Ms Richardson said: "Peregrine Brewing Ltd was founded off the back of running a successful micro-pub in Darwen, which is where our fascination of beer making began.

Lancashire Telegraph: Clare and Anthony brewing their beers

"Anthony used to own and run Cask Bar, which started in Darwen Market, but then moved to Duckworth Street in 2018, before he sold the business to a third party in November 2019.

"After that we began experimenting with new ideas and brews out of a garage and it grew from there - we knew then that the beer making possibilities were endless and that we were only limited by our own imagination.

"In early 2020, when the pandemic hit, we thought it would pass within a month or two, so around June/July we took the plunge and founded our brewery, setting ourselves up with a small amount of kit in a unit in Rishton.

Lancashire Telegraph: Peregrine Brewing Ltd

"But then the second lockdown restrictions were put in place.

"The hospitality sector was hit hard - pubs and restaurants were forced to stop trading and thus our brewing ground to a halt.

"We had no income and our cash flow was consumed by rent and other financial obligations, which meant we were at great risk of losing everything that we invested and worked so hard to build.

Lancashire Telegraph: Clare's partner, Diane Mellor

"In addition, we had no access to government grants or loans - due to only being founded that year."

With a refusal to give up - as well as holding down full-time jobs - the business partners focused on brewing small package beers at the weekends and selling directly to the public.

Ms Richardson continued: "The reception from locals was overwhelming and without their help and support, we may not have had the courage to push through with all that we had."

Now that pubs are back open, Ms Richardson said Peregrine's hand crafted beers are flying-out, with venues across Lancashire stocking their brews.

Lancashire Telegraph: Anthony Rothwell with a Peregrine Brewing beer

She added: "We are gaining momentum faster than we can brew, and with only a small brewing capacity and the limited time we have available to brew, we are in need of help.

"That's why we've set up a crowdfunder, to try and get a bump start."

Ms Richardson and her team, which consists of mostly family members, are now asking for pledges through the crowdfunder to help them begin brewing on a more frequent basis, and eventually build an in-house tap bar - allowing them to open to the public, and creating a number of employment opportunities.

To help support the growing business, follow this link.

For more information visit www.peregrinebrewingltd.com