
Something Brewing in Cornwall
Tommy Barnes(Author)
Muswell Press
Published on 11. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
226 pages
978-1-9192471-2-0 (ISBN)
Description
Four years after establishing Braslou Biere, 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 it is he who is the problem not the work.
With that insight, and the kindness of friends, and a rival brewer he sets about launching Braslou Biere 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.
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 it is he who is the problem not the work.
With that insight, and the kindness of friends, and a rival brewer he sets about launching Braslou Biere 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.
Reviews / Votes
'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
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 128 mm
Width: 198 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
212 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-9192471-2-0 (9781919247120)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Tommy Barnes worked as a graphic designer in London for 15 years. Taking redundancy, he and wife Rose moved to France and set up Braslou Biere in the Loire. Forced by Covid to return to the UK, he now lives in Padstow with his family. Tommys previous books A Beer in the Loire and Trouble Brewing in the Loire were both shortlisted Fortnum & Mason's food and drink award