In 2020, Roger Daltrey, frontman of The Who, co‑founded Lakedown Brewing Co. with his family and entrepreneur Chris Rule. Three years later, the family‑run microbrewery opened a dedicated brewing facility on Daltrey’s 400‑acre farm in Burwash, East Sussex, turning a former trout fishery into a modern production hub.
Daltrey first bought the property in the 1970s as a retreat from touring; he dug four spring‑fed trout lakes that now surround the taproom. The estate’s history gives the brewery a unique sense of place that the family emphasises in every pint.
The company focuses on sessionable, full‑flavoured beers that are vegan and most gluten‑free. Jamie Daltrey explained that the brewery follows a grain‑to‑glass approach, combining traditional methods with modern equipment to deliver fresh, easy‑drinking brews.
Lakedown sells its range—Pilsner, Pale Ale, NEIPA, Porter, and more—through its website, monthly subscription plans, and on‑site taproom. Local pubs, bars and bottle shops across Sussex now stock the beers; Tom Evans of The Bell pub said the new brews “feel like a local story in a glass.”
The family also uses the brand to support community projects. They extended sponsorship of the Fat Tuesday Music Festival, funding free music workshops for 12‑to‑18‑year‑old students at St Leonards’ Contemporary Music School.
With the new facility, the Daltrey family aims to double production capacity and broaden distribution, bringing Lakedown’s craft beers to more venues while keeping production rooted on the east Sussex farm.