Awards

• Runner-up for Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Award 2019
• Runner-up for Fortnum and Mason Food and Drink Award 2022

Overview

Four years after establishing Braslou Bière, a British microbrewery in the heart of French wine country, Covid hits and Tommy and Rose Barnes are forced to make the agonising decision to return to England. Landing in a cramped cottage in scenic Padstow, their animals are rehomed, and their children confused. Tommy mourns the loss of his old life. After winning and losing several jobs, not least at the legendary St Austell Brewery, he realises that he is in trouble. In fact, he is depressed. With that insight, and the kindness of friends, and a rival brewer he sets about launching Braslou Bière in Cornwall. Yes, there are disasters aplenty, but with his new self-knowledge and energy, life begins to look up. He launches Surfer Beer to celebrate. Told with biting wit and poignant reflection, this is a story of escape and exile, of finding freedom and losing it again, and of how the places we leave behind often haunt us more than we expect. It’s a deeply human tale about identity, home, and the weight of nostalgia—laced with beer, animals, and a truly indestructible dog.

Full Product Details

9781919247120

Table of Contents

Reviews

  ‘A candid, brilliantly human book full of laugh out loud moments. And lots of beer’   Rosie Birkett, Sunday Times ‘Tommy’s antics are hilarious. Like Brewing meets Bake Off in rural France’  James Dowdeswell   ‘Delicious’ Daily Telegraph 

Author Information

Tommy Barnes worked as a graphic designer before taking redundancy and moving to France where he set up Braslou Bierè, the subject of his two previous books. Forced by Covid to return to the UK, he now lives in Padstow with his family.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available