Wales' Last Brewery Cooper Moves Into OAQ Production Centre

May 12, 2011 - PRLog -- A bustling St Asaph woodyard took a step closer to becoming the oak capital of Wales last week with the arrival of master craftsman Pete Coates and his fast growing Oak Barrel Creations business.

Pete, one of only a few remaining qualified brewery coopers in the UK – and believed to be the only one in Wales – moved his one man concern into the Elwy Dale Woodyard, the production centre for OAQ Ltd, the oak framed buildings specialists.

He was acting after OAQ chairman Alan Stockwin, whose company is building a reputation as a centre of excellence in the provision of oak framed buildings and crafted oak products, offered him space to give clients access to a wider range of oak products.

“Quality and craftsmanship are the keystone of OAQ which was established to provide oak framed building solutions for a wide variety of clients,” explained Mr Stockwin. “We can provide everything from the complete oak framed buildings to extensions, garden rooms and even oak porches.

“When we met Pete and saw the quality of bespoke oak furniture he produces based on his training as a brewery cooper or barrel maker, we had no hesitation in offering him space as his services are very much complementary to ours.”

Pete, who learned his coopering skills as an apprentice with Theakstons’ Brewery at Masham in his native Yorkshire, spent nine years handcrafting casks from hoops and wooden staves. Then 11 years ago he moved to Wales looking for a ‘fresh start’ and took a job at the Deeside Toyota factory.

However, when the factory started cutting back on staff last year Pete decided to take advantage of a redundancy deal and launch himself into a new career creating bespoke ornamental furniture from the traditional wooden casks he used to build.

“Demand has been incredible,” said Pete speaking from his home in Holywell. “People seem to love my products whether it’s tables and chairs, drinks cabinets and even water features. I get commissions from all over the country and have recently received some orders from France.”

Having worked with oak for many years, Pete was intrigued when OAQ Ltd took over the Elwy Dale woodyard and decided to pay a visit.

“I was totally impressed,” he said. “The oak framed buildings they create are traditional and distinctive and fine examples of what can be achieved when working with oak. The quality of their work is superb and I am not surprised their products are already in great demand.”

Pete then had a conversation with OAQ chairman Allan Stockwin and when he told the entrepreneur he had been looking for premises for his own business, Mr Stockwin made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”
“Allan said my business could be seen as complementary to OAQ’s activities and that he would be happy to offer me a work space at the yard. I took him up on his offer immediately. Since being here, I’ve had visits from a range of new clients so business is looking good.”

For further information about Pete’s work click onto www.oakbarrelcreations.co.uk. Further information on OAQ can be found by clicking onto www.oaq-ltd.co.uk