A BREWERY founded by a husband and wife just two years ago has increased production by 1,477 per cent to keep up with demand.

The Steam Machine Brewing Company has gone from making 500 pints a week to 7,885, and is now looking for a home for its first craft beer bar in County Durham.

The plans come as the business enjoys a three-month residency at Empty Shop - an arts and cultural hub, off Framwellgate Bridge, in Durham City.

Nick and Gulen Smith founded the business, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, in 2015 and admit they didn’t expect the venture to take off in such a grand scale.

They also confirmed their intention to open a bar.

Nick, a former chemistry teacher, said: “From the outset, our plan was to open a local brewery that produced bold, flavoursome beers but which also allowed people to drink them on the premises in a licenced brew room.

“People bought into the plan, so much so that after only a year we had to move into larger premises to enable us to increase our beer production and to accommodate more people in the brew room.

“We want the bar to become a destination where people make a special effort to come and try our beers, but also guest beers we will stock from other small, local breweries.”

The duo have also now started switching their beers from being served in bottles to cans.

Gulen added: “The quality is much better. The beer isn’t affected by the light and it helps keep in the aroma."