Glastonbury Red Brick Building says recovery is moving on

By Laura Linham 31st Jul 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

Glastonbury's Red Brick Building says recovery work is continuing, with new tenants moving in, office spaces now full and the café next on its to-do list.

The Beckery site said there had been "a lot happening behind the scenes" as work continues to move the organisation forward after a difficult period. Tenants are still working from the building, while outside areas have been cleared, tidied and brought back into use.

In an update, the Red Brick Building said it had welcomed new tenants into its Artisan Studio and Media Hub. It said all office spaces are now full, although some spaces remain available in the Artisan Studio and Media Hub, along with full-time and part-time hot desks.

The organisation said it had also been heartened by stories from people who have used the building over the years. It said many had described the Red Brick as a place where businesses began, friendships formed, confidence grew and creativity found a home.

The update said: "Those stories remind us that this place has always been about far more than bricks and mortar. It has a spirit all of its own."

The café is now next in line for attention. The Red Brick Building said it was taking longer to bring together than hoped, but was "right at the top" of its to-do list.

Rooms at the site are also available to hire for classes, workshops, meetings and events. Enquiries can be sent to [email protected].

The update comes after the collapse of the Life Factory project, which had been intended to turn part of the Red Brick site into space for work, training and community activities.

Somerset Council paused the scheme in January 2024 after concerns were raised. Auditors later identified problems including poor checks on spending, missing paperwork, no secured extra funding, no planning permission and no proper contract between Red Brick Building Centre Ltd and Beckery Construction Company Ltd.

More than £2.3 million had been paid by the time the project was halted. The Life Factory section was left unfinished, and some contractors later said they had not been paid.

Red Brick later described the collapse as a "collective failure". Somerset Council has previously said it took too long to stop the project and should not have paid some claims.

Beckery Construction later went into liquidation owing more than £686,000, with 26 local businesses, mainly small contractors, facing losses. Police began looking into the Life Factory matter in June 2025 after a referral, although no findings have been announced.

A linked Glastonbury Food and Regenerative Farming Centre project was also cancelled. In May 2026, Somerset Council said that project may still be revived separately, subject to further conditions including due diligence and a new grant agreement.

The Red Brick Building said recent work on the site is part of a step-by-step recovery. It thanked supporters and said: "One step at a time, we're moving forwards."