Comment: Emmie Harrison-West

and don’t have cool places to go, offering discos, games nights and karaoke,” he told me - adding that, this year, the brewery is working with Lewisham Mencap, Sydenham Arts and other local organisations to offer a coordinated response to locals who can’t afford heating. “We have all been keen to ensure that poverty doesn’t just lead to pity and a joyless response,” he told me - adding: “In short, a well-run taproom can help everyone live their best lives.”

Hosforth Brewery, based in Leeds, has responded to rising energy bills, toooffering a free, heated workspace for locals (new and old). Its founder, Mark Costello, told me that the idea was born after a local told him they were worrying about heating their home to work from. “I thought, come work from ours!” he said. “It’s completely free, we have fast broadband, and free tea and coffee. Some people book a space and join us for meetings,” he added. “People are saving money on their bills, and hopefully will then spend it with us.”

It’s estimated that we lost the equivalent of 2.1bn pints in beer sales over lockdown, with more than 32 pubs in England and Wales closing their doors each week last year.

Speaking of the community that the brewery has built, Mark told me that he never expected his regulars to become such good friends. “There’s something really comforting about the taproom,” he said. “We’ve definitely got a lot of people who have made really good friends from coming. People who came in by themselves now chat with other people, and it’s lovely to see.”

Taprooms are bringing the community back together after so long apart, and are vital resources that should be championed. They’ve been essential to me, too. Moving to Edinburgh only a few months back, hundreds of miles from my home and friends, it’s been hard not to feel pretty lonely at times. My local brewery’s taprooms, Moonwake and Newbarns, have helped host women in beer events - being the catalyst for me in meeting new, like-minded people. They’ve helped me sow the seeds of some friendships already, which will hopefully blossom into something beautiful.

Taprooms really do have a special magic about them that connects and nurtures community – and never has that been more important.

Born in a railway arch next to Hackney Downs station, Five Points has the true cockney credentials of one of the first wave of London breweries to re-colonise the Capital. Founded by Ed Mason and Greg Hobbs back in 2012, the brewery launched with an ethos routed in sustainability – not just in terms of its green leanings, but also in its attitude to nurturing its people and its community, and building a business that can support both. Five Points was the first UK brewery to gain Living Wage accreditation and it pledges to pay the London Living Wage as a minimum to all its team members including barstaff at its taproom and pub site, the Pembury Tavern. Ed’s background in pubs has been invaluable in building the retail side of the operation, and the Pembury was added in 2015, while Greg cut his