Snow does not stop brewer Alex Arkell getting wed
11:30am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Latest News
Alex Arkell and his bride, Alice Braithwaite (Picture: http://www.verityjohnson.co.uk)
THE youngest member of the Arkell’s brewing dynasty has tied the knot to his childhood sweetheart, despite the big freeze almost leaving guests stranded on the way to the venue.
Alex Arkell, who raised laughs by concocting Ball and Chain ale to mark the occasion, married Alice Braithwaite in front of 200 family and friends in Northumberland on Saturday.
Arkell’s delivery driver Harry Curtis set off at 4am last Friday to deliver four barrels of the ale on the same day that snow blanketed much of the country, on top of a layer from earlier in the week.
Guests were also stranded for hours on the M6, which was more like a car park on the Friday afternoon than a motorway, but everyone made it to the nuptials.
A spokeswoman for Arkell’s said: “Despite the weather, the day dawned glorious and blue for the wedding. Every drop of Ball and Chain was finished off.”
The Arkell’s brand was represented through a bar which was transported from Swindon, complete with Ball and Chain hand pump clips featuring images of Alex.
The head brewer proposed after cooking Alice a three-course meal four months ago and – after she said ‘yes’ – they came up with the name of the ale together, on the grounds that it attracted the most laughs from family and friends.
While Alice busied herself organising the ceremony, Alex got to work at the historic brewery in Kingsdown creating the celebratory ale.
Alice also has a fulfilling career to look forward to as she opened The Tea Chest in Lechlade last year.
The newlyweds, both 27, are on honeymoon at a ski resort in Whistler, Canada.
Swindonians can raise a glass to the couple themselves after the Ball and Chain brew hit pubs last week.
Explaining the recipe before the wedding, Alex said: “Beer is brewed from malt, hops, water and yeast. Most malts are made from barley, much of it good English barley, and it’s the base of any real ale.
“Hops are the female flowers used primarily for flavouring and stability.
“The yeast is used for fermentation. Marry them together and you have malt and hops for content, stability and flavouring and yeast to rise to the occasion.
“I’m hoping Ball and Chain will become fundamental to a truly contented married life for us both.”
