YORK’S newest brewery, Ainsty Ales, has been officially launched.

It has been set up by Copmanthorpe resident Andy Herrington, a former policeman who spent 18 months researching and drawing up his business plans.

He began by ‘cuckoo brewing’ at Brass Castle Brewery in Malton, and hopes to find his own site in the old Ainsty area, west of York, to create local jobs and to support other local companies and charities.

He has worked with Owen Turner from United by Design on The Mount on the branding, and is building relationships with York Brewery and MACE Supermarkets, and held a formal launch event at the Your Bike Shed cafe in Micklegate last week, attended by the Lord Mayor of York Ian Gillies and the Mayor of Tadcaster Steve Cobb.

Mr Herrington said: “I attend many seminars such as those set up by City of York Council and Welcome to Yorkshire, who have also been very supportive. I’m proud to have won a grant through the Yorkshire Innovation Fund, which has seen me pair up with York St John University.”

The university receives funding and Ainsty Ales receives expertise from business and marketing students. Mr Herrington will speak to business students later this year about setting up and running his own business and the ales will be stocked in the students’ union.

Mr Herrington has also teamed up with York butcher Lee Bell, who produced a special giant pie for the launch event. The pair are looking to run “pie and pint” stalls at Christmas in York and will provide beer-flavoured pork pies, for the Coptoberfest beer festival in Copmanthorpe, next weekend.